naïf 1 of 2

variants or naif
Definition of naïfnext

naïf

2 of 2

noun

variants or naif

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
Adjective
  • In her own naive way, Miss Manners notices that your concern about gift cards requires a remarkable number of dollar signs to express.
    Judith Martin, Mercury News, 25 June 2026
  • And radical hope — not naive optimism, but hope that lives in imagination.
    Ashoka, Forbes.com, 25 June 2026
Noun
  • 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
  • Some recycled materials are on par, some are cheaper with virgin, others more expensive, and every single scenario is different.
    James Morris, Forbes.com, 27 June 2026
Adjective
  • Every imaginable yellow, green and blue wig was on display among the sea of kilts outside Hard Rock Stadium (re-named Miami Stadium for the World Cup), faces were painted in all the team colors, and fans of both teams posed for photos together.
    Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 25 June 2026
  • Purchased in the Mexican state of Oaxaca, the traditional hat was decorated with a red and green beaded flower.
    Nollyanne Delacruz, Mercury News, 25 June 2026
Noun
  • Over 5,000 deaths, most of them for innocents not driving trucks, in 2023 alone.
    John Tamny, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026
  • Whatever conclusions investigators might reach, the loss of at least 50 souls, and the wounding of dozens more innocents, is an unbearable blow for any community.
    Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 12 June 2026
Adjective
  • Over the same period, entry-level head count at the high-intensity firms rose 12%, contradicting predictions and fears that young or inexperienced workers would be most at risk of losing their jobs to AI.
    Rachel Barber, USA Today, 1 July 2026
  • Immer and Lois work with land stewards to find projects that make sense for eager but often inexperienced volunteers.
    Pedro Moura, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026
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
Noun
  • Fears over fledgling eaglets While the annual fireworks display and its impact on local wildlife have garnered controversy in the past, this year, advocates are particularly concerned about Jackie and Shadow’s two eaglets, Sandy and Luna, who were born in early April.
    Drew Pittock, USA Today, 26 June 2026
  • Scotland really needs an Iraq win or a tie here to help its fledgling chances.
    ABC News, ABC News, 26 June 2026
Noun
  • Our best ingenues would queue to star as Dora and Nora.
    Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 10 June 2026
  • 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

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Cite this Entry

“Naïf.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/na%C3%AFf. Accessed 4 Jul. 2026.

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