variants
or naïve
1
as in innocent
lacking in worldly wisdom or informed judgment
a first-time buyer who was so naive that he believed the salesman's spiel and paid good money for the rusty and broken-down car
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in genuine
free from any intent to deceive or impress others
the young girl gave honest and naive answers to the social worker's probing questions
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in easy
readily taken advantage of
we get piles of junk mail because you are naive enough to keep entering these dumb contests
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of naive
And if anyone was naive enough to imagine the U.S.-led tournament in 2026 would be free of such political baggage, then surely the increasingly public proximity of the Trump-Infantino relationship has dispelled those illusions.
—
Oliver Kay, New York Times, 20 June 2025
Biography Ellmann-style was left looking hopelessly naive in its effort to understand the work by understanding its writer’s life.
—Eric Bulson, The Atlantic, 16 June 2025
The tone of the show was celebratory but not naive.
—Charlie Fink, Forbes.com, 13 June 2025
Moynihan’s defense was a simplified, even naive version of his own family story.
—Augustine Sedgewick, Time, 13 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for naive
Oliver Kay, New York Times, 20 June 2025
Biography Ellmann-style was left looking hopelessly naive in its effort to understand the work by understanding its writer’s life.
—Eric Bulson, The Atlantic, 16 June 2025
The tone of the show was celebratory but not naive.
—Charlie Fink, Forbes.com, 13 June 2025
Moynihan’s defense was a simplified, even naive version of his own family story.
—Augustine Sedgewick, Time, 13 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for naive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for naive
Adjective
-
So far, the city's liability insurance carriers have agreed to pay nearly $27 million to settle four civil rights lawsuits alleging detectives — including some identified by multiple former officers as Wolverines — framed innocent people.—
Kristine Phillips,
IndyStar,
4 July 2025
-
That includes sparklers, which may look more innocent but can get up to 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit.—
Bruce Y. Lee,
Forbes.com,
4 July 2025
Adjective
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What matters is whether genuine compatibility exists beneath the obsession.—
Emma Specter,
Vogue,
5 July 2025
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Despite the lighthearted framing of the post, many comments conveyed genuine sadness or guilt—often about animals taken on without fully understanding the commitment involved.—
Melissa Fleur Afshar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 July 2025
Adjective
-
Its attached solar panel charges all day, then automatically lights up the glass tube after hours for easier nighttime reading of the gauge.—
Molly Blanco,
Better Homes & Gardens,
7 July 2025
-
The easiest gauge is body composition every two weeks.—
Tor Constantino,
Forbes.com,
7 July 2025
Adjective
-
Jamie Lee Curtis got honest about her cosmetic procedures in the hopes of dissuading women from making the same mistake.—
Maria Yagoda,
People.com,
5 July 2025
-
The appraisal was not crude, but rather honest and profound.—
Megan Feringa,
New York Times,
4 July 2025
Adjective
-
While in many ways, this flat 33km time-trial is simple, particularly in its middle section, there is still plenty to watch out for.—
Jacob Whitehead,
New York Times,
11 July 2025
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Chris wore a simple navy blue polo shirt and khaki shorts combo, while Alexa showed off her growing bump in a white and blue floral dress — along with an Olympic logo necklace to complete her maternity style.—
Kayla Grant,
People.com,
11 July 2025
Adjective
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That might sound dramatic, but in my work with leaders over the years (and in my own life), it’s proven absolutely true.—
Jill D. Griffin,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
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Staying true to her signature fusion of genres, Bonner also partnered with streetwear brand Y-3.—
Alice Pfeiffer,
CNN Money,
1 July 2025
Adjective
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Like an ’80s televangelist, Lindell is a pro at exploiting religion to bilk the gullible.—
Krista Kafer,
Denver Post,
20 June 2025
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Being personally very gullible and constantly putting myself in the place of the audience was the key for me in directing this series.—
Patrick Brzeski,
HollywoodReporter,
19 June 2025
Adjective
-
Sellers are unsophisticated and oftentimes are not natively digital, which adds to the challenge of discoverability for buyers Buyers and sellers take a long time to close deals thanks to lengthy clearing price negotiations, financing processes, transition planning, and more.—
Rocio Wu,
Forbes,
26 Feb. 2025
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Thus even relatively unsophisticated cybercriminals can access the latest tools to commit their crimes.—
Steve Weisman,
Forbes.com,
15 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Naive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/naive. Accessed 15 Jul. 2025.
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