variants
or naif
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
variants
or naif
as in virgin
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of naïf
Meghan Cox Gurdon, WSJ, 21 Nov. 2023
Dennis Harvey, Variety, 3 July 2025
Rogan, wearing his persona as a babe-in-the-woods naif, listened to this nonsense in slack-jawed stupefaction.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 12 Dec. 2024
Angourie Rice plays our ostensible heroine Cady Heron as more of an earnest naif.
—Katie Walsh, Twin Cities, 11 Jan. 2024
Adjective
Most illustrators play up the coziness of the tale, what with children all snug in their beds dreaming of sugarplums and suchlike, but the friendly lines and marzipan colors of Ms. Beech’s naif illustrations take coziness to a new level.
—Meghan Cox Gurdon, WSJ, 21 Nov. 2023
Noun
Glusman is perfectly fine, but the writing leaves this figure too much of a naif to seem threatening or to be credible when Elliot somehow circumvents Sophie’s protective barriers.
—Dennis Harvey, Variety, 3 July 2025
Rogan, wearing his persona as a babe-in-the-woods naif, listened to this nonsense in slack-jawed stupefaction.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 12 Dec. 2024
Angourie Rice plays our ostensible heroine Cady Heron as more of an earnest naif.
—Katie Walsh, Twin Cities, 11 Jan. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for naïf
Adjective
-
The film follows hopeful, naive college freshman Devon, who asks the cool and confident Celeste to be her roommate.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
19 Mar. 2026
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Meanwhile, Mary, the most naive of the trio, remains blissfully unaware that anything is amiss.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
18 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Additionally, Smart Linen is just 10 to 20 percent more expensive compared to virgin fibers when the price of virgin is at a low level.—
Angela Velasquez,
Sourcing Journal,
17 Mar. 2026
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But fans of the myth of Erzsébet Báthory, who was accused circa the early 17th century of killing young virgins to bathe in their blood for her own beautification, might be let down by what’s ultimately a silly, madcap Vienna adventure.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
18 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Security footage widely shared online shows a man wearing a black beanie, sunglasses, a green tank top and brown shorts approaching Moo Deng and her mother, Jona, while holding a tablet, apparently recording or taking photos.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
19 Mar. 2026
-
Plus, the new ultramarine and green pigments are better suited for deep skin tones, bringing the range to 44 diverse shades.—
Grace McCarty,
Glamour,
18 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
As Archangel Michael, Devyn Wade is both boyishly sweet and terrified as a devil’s advocate, cautiously questioning God’s decisions and her history of killing the innocent.—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
16 Mar. 2026
-
As a result, tennis balls were stuck on the ends of his horns to protect the innocent.—
Mark Price
January 29,
Charlotte Observer,
29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Don José is an inexperienced Spanish soldier who falls in love with the seductive Gypsy, Carmen.—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Mar. 2026
-
Dangerous rip currents are expected at regional beaches, prompting officials to warn against swimming, especially for inexperienced swimmers.—
Joaquin Palomino,
San Francisco Chronicle,
14 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Dawkins and right tackle Spencer Brown suffered injuries that sidelined them in Pittsburgh, forcing greenhorns Ryan Vandemark and Alec Anderson into service against T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith and Nick Herbig.—
Tim Graham,
New York Times,
13 Feb. 2026
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Finally, and very importantly for the greenhorns among us: What’s your tip for getting rid of soreness after a ride?—
Samantha Dunn,
Oc Register,
9 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The company had used FAScorp, Moller’s husband’s IT company, to set up computers and networks for the fledgling startup.—
Scott Pham,
CBS News,
20 Mar. 2026
-
In other words, not included in this figure are Nvidia's fledgling business selling standalone CPUs, which Jensen on Monday labeled a multi-billion-dollar business opportunity.—
Zev Fima,
CNBC,
17 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
At one point, the Phantom and Christine, the ingenue and the object of his obsession, glide toward you in a gondola, crossing an underground lake.—
Tribune News Service,
Baltimore Sun,
3 Mar. 2026
-
Yet in her disaster, a new ingenue steps into the spotlight.—
Frederick Dreier,
Outside,
9 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Naïf.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/na%C3%AFf. Accessed 24 Mar. 2026.
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