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
  • The rookies, of which the Dolphins drafted an NFL-high 13 players, could be considered a bit naive to the intricacies of an NFL season.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 5 Sep. 2026
  • By the early sixties, the romance of the untaught or naïve artist was really catching.
    — Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of naive
Noun
  • The sleeveless virgin-wool dress had a close fit throughout, with a high cowl neckline.
    — Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 20 Aug. 2026
  • It was aged for about three decades in ex-bourbon barrels, and then finished in four different cask types for three to six years—virgin Japanese mizunara oak, American virgin oak, Oloroso sherry, and Pedro Ximénez sherry.
    — Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 24 July 2026
Definition of virgin
Adjective
  • While the species can reach large tree height, selecting a smaller bush variety that produces blue-green fruits in fall is a plus for the garden.
    — Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Demario Davis will be the Jets’ green-dot linebacker, receiving the defensive calls from Glenn.
    — Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of green
Noun
  • On that terrible day, millions of Americans witnessed airplanes flying into buildings, people jumping off skyscrapers, and the Twin Towers collapsing with thousands of innocents inside.
    — Foreign Affairs, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026
  • The Night Court will not stand idly by while innocents are attacked.
    — Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of innocent
Adjective
  • Edmonton is set to rely on some inexperienced players this season.
    — Janson Duench, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
  • The Holbrook sisters are undersocialized and inexperienced with the world, and Herzog sees them as figures out of a fable, dreamers who talk incessantly about love and seem connected to the elemental and the ancient.
    — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 3 Sep. 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
  • In July, when Eala went viral for her horizontal forehand against Świątek, Tiu’s father requested a poster for the fledgling star.
    — Rebecca Tauber, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026
  • The fledglings of the bird, which is native to New Zealand, were bred this year.
    — Adela Suliman, NBC news, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of fledgling
Noun
  • When the Television Academy announced its nominations in July, the story wasn’t about the ingenues.
    — Clayton Davis, Variety, 21 Aug. 2026
  • 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
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 12 Sep. 2026.

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