naïf 1 of 2

adjective

variants or naif
Definition of naïfnext
as in naive
lacking in worldly wisdom or informed judgment the senator, newly elected and still naïf, will learn soon enough how Washington really works

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

naïf

2 of 2

noun

variants or naif
as in virgin

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of naïf
Adjective
Colorful naif pictures by Katie Hickey and text arranged in substantial chunks make this perfect for browsing by young readers with an interest in engineering or architecture. — Meghan Cox Gurdon, WSJ, 12 Aug. 2022
Noun
In his directorial debut, Early, who also wrote the film, plays Maddie, a blonde naif who skyrockets to viral fame for recipes created in the test kitchen of GourMaybe, a fictional but winkingly all-too-familiar online content hub. — Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 18 June 2026 There is a risk of turning Artie into a naif, but in her careful, close observations, his depths become increasingly legible. — John Warner, Chicago Tribune, 2 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for naïf
Recent Examples of Synonyms for naïf
  1. naive
  2. virgin
  3. green
  4. innocent
  5. inexperienced
  6. greenhorn
  7. fledgling
  8. ingenue
Adjective
  • In the face of climate change, such woo woo aphorisms seem ridiculous, naive, and cruel.
    — Josh Fox, IndieWire, 17 July 2026
  • The 1962 film version featured a more innocent family with a daughter who’s presexual and thus a naïve object of lust for Robert Mitchum’s casually lascivious Cady.
    — Scott Tobias, Vulture, 17 July 2026
Definition of naive
Noun
  • Diana, a virgin born into an aristocratic family, was seen as an ideal match for the future king.
    — Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 17 July 2026
  • In another, called Leucippe and Clitophon, Leucippe is saved from being sacrificed as a virgin by the timely appearance of an actor who uses theatre tricks used to perform deaths on stage to fake her death and spirit her away.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 30 June 2026
Definition of virgin
Adjective
  • Adjacent to the tent, a small green building holds this year’s newest cannabis display and awards category, homegrown cultivation.
    — Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 19 July 2026
  • As the conflict in the Middle East weakens supply chains, China aims to increase its production of ethylene in its first fully green production chain.
    — Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 19 July 2026
Definition of green
Noun
  • Some innocents are coerced into false confessions, like what happened to the Central Park Five.
    — Rene Denfeld, PEOPLE, 21 July 2026
  • Over 5,000 deaths, most of them for innocents not driving trucks, in 2023 alone.
    — John Tamny, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026
Definition of innocent
Adjective
  • Many leave home early for school, and darkness adds difficulty for inexperienced motorists who may already be tired or rushed.
    — Chris Hardesty, AJC.com, 23 July 2026
  • But both Foulkes and the head of a consumer electronics organization say combining AI with other technologies is allaying those concerns by making boating easier and less intimidating for both experienced and inexperienced individuals.
    — Ed Garsten, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
Definition of inexperienced
Noun
  • Flecks of mica and pyrite and who knows what, but only fools and greenhorns mistake it for gold.
    — John Archibald, Southern Living, 11 June 2026
  • The indestructible Gill, still strolling the fairways of the magazine, was more than welcoming to a greenhorn.
    — Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 5 May 2025
Definition of greenhorn
Noun
  • Canha appeared in the fledgling show’s third episode — which aired on June 21.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 16 July 2026
  • So in 2022, Gunn and Safran recruited King for their DC brain trust — a Justice League of writers helping plot the future of the fledgling universe.
    — Jordan Moreau, Variety, 16 July 2026
Definition of fledgling
Noun
  • Actresses who are no longer ingenues make striking appearances, not only in dramas, but also at formal events.
    — Judith Martin, Mercury News, 6 July 2026
  • Our best ingenues would queue to star as Dora and Nora.
    — Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 10 June 2026
Definition of ingenue

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Cite this Entry

“Naïf.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/na%C3%AFf. Accessed 25 Jul. 2026.

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