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
  • Brand New Day shows Peter leaving his more naive teen years behind and truly coming of age.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Ted was genuinely out of his depth, the conflicts felt earned, and the show still had to persuade audiences that its relentless optimism wasn’t naïve.
    — Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of naive
Noun
  • 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
  • Erotic Teen Fan Fiction Movie By Morgan Lehmann A teen virgin writing erotic fiction online must collaborate with her school’s promiscuous quarterback when asked to write about her nonexistent love life for a publisher.
    — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 22 July 2026
Definition of virgin
Adjective
  • The tiles have crisp white backgrounds with sharp-looking black, red, and green characters.
    — Sian Babish, PEOPLE, 9 Aug. 2026
  • Then comes the ash and, sandwiched inside and just above it, two green films a few hundredths of a millimeter thick.
    — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 9 Aug. 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
  • His successor is inexperienced Indiana transfer Alberto Mendoza.
    — Michael Cunningham, AJC.com, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Prongos is still understandably inexperienced in several areas and needs to get stronger.
    — Dane Brugler, New York Times, 4 Aug. 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
  • His vision is of a basketball player who is hungry to lead a fledgling WNBA franchise.
    — Joe Kinsey OutKick, FOXNews.com, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Sedelmaier noted that while money was a motivator for young artists, the freedom and collaboration were equally appealing in making the fledgling network a great place to grow as a creative.
    — Angela Andaloro, PEOPLE, 31 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 14 Aug. 2026.

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