naïveté

noun

nä-ˌēv-ˈtā How to pronounce naïveté (audio)
variants also naivete or naiveté
Definition of naïveténext
1
as in innocence
the quality or state of being simple and sincere her naïveté led her to leave her new car unlocked while she shopped at the mall

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in gullibility
readiness to believe the claims of others without sufficient evidence though he was streetwise, the investigative reporter regularly assumed an air of naïveté when he was interviewing confidence men, charlatans, counterfeiters, and other assorted swindlers of the general public

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 naïveté These character endnotes, whether they’re read as youthful naiveté or an insulting interpretation of youthful naiveté, contribute to the finale’s bitter aftertaste. — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 1 June 2026 Demie sees her storyline as one of naivete. — Seija Rankin, HollywoodReporter, 31 May 2026 God protect me from my own lack of understanding and naivete. — Dan Adler, Vanity Fair, 27 May 2026 On their first two trips to the property, the enormity of the task at hand—and their utter naiveté in taking it on—sank in. — Ingrid Abramovitch, Architectural Digest, 22 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for naïveté
Recent Examples of Synonyms for naïveté
  1. innocence
  2. gullibility
  3. simplicity
  4. credibility
  5. ignorance
  6. credulity
  7. naivety
  8. credulousness
Noun
  • That raw innocence would prove crucial to Zai’s character, who experiences a gamut of violations masked as privilege.
    — Ritesh Mehta, IndieWire, 5 Sep. 2026
  • The Adelson family had long denied any involvement in Markel’s killing, and in August 2016, their lawyer released a statement maintaining their innocence.
    — Jordana Comiter, PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of innocence
Noun
  • Members must accommodate themselves to its fictions, with varying mixtures of gullibility and cynicism; followers shown proof that the leader has lied may admire him all the more for his tactical cleverness.
    — David Denby, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Mason highlights – with levity and humor – how erroneous ideas, gullibility, and blinders can lead even people who should know better down rabbit holes.
    — Monitor reviewers, Christian Science Monitor, 23 July 2026
Definition of gullibility
Noun
  • The key is simplicity and predictability, giving producers confidence that American locations can compete with foreign alternatives.
    — Sam Roseme, HollywoodReporter, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Complexity can disguise poor thinking, while simplicity can expose it.
    — Ricardo Bellino, Forbes.com, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of simplicity
Noun
  • This work will ultimately support fundraising efforts, donor retention, corporate partnerships, volunteer recruitment, credibility and more for long-term success.
    — Catherine LaCour, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2026
  • The validator set now spans distinct institutional categories, each bringing a different kind of credibility to the network.
    — Ethan M. Stone, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of credibility
Noun
  • There is still time for Americans to create a new apogee before America 300 by rejecting the lies, insecurity, and ignorance endemic of the last quarter-century.
    — Michael E. Neagle, Hartford Courant, 8 Sep. 2026
  • This isn’t waste born of ignorance; these teams already have the dashboards.
    — Devendra Rajput, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of ignorance
Noun
  • The idea that these two would have a five-minute-or-less breakup conversation, then plop down on the couch and happily embark on an acid trip together, strains credulity a little, even for this bizarre, codependent friend group.
    — Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The movie features several spectacular set pieces, some of which defy gravity and credulity, but at its heart, The Fugitive is a classically satisfying mystery in the Agatha Christie tradition.
    — Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of credulity
Noun
  • Nearly a decade after Hutchins’s death, Cole revisits nine formative years marked by naivety, discovery, confusion, and evolution.
    — Tina Eves, SPIN, 9 Sep. 2026
  • The age of the activists has drawn comments, even from government officials, that youth equates to naivety and ignorance.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of naivety
Noun
  • Her credulousness has actually served Fox as a legal defense, since a person has to know a statement was false or show reckless disregard for the truth in order to be held liable for defamation.
    — Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of credulousness

Browse Nearby Words

naiveness
naïveté
naivety
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Cite this Entry

“Naïveté.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/na%C3%AFvet%C3%A9. Accessed 13 Sep. 2026.

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