naively

variants or naïvely

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 naively Unfortunately, one extra week of rest is not sufficient to rectify this problem (even assuming — naively — that NYRA kicks the Belmont back a week to accommodate our shift). Stephen J. K. Walters, Baltimore Sun, 12 Aug. 2026 Her parents naively thought these nuns would look after their kid for a couple of weeks. Zachary Fletcher, USA Today, 7 July 2026 When the United States invaded the Philippines during the Spanish-American War, Twain naively imagined that the country would be liberated and turned into a republic. Ron Chernow, The Atlantic, 2 July 2026 Schmidt is hardly alone in naively extrapolating this trend out and concluding that, in the limit, AI will inevitably consume all the energy in the world. Rob Toews, Forbes.com, 22 June 2026 Readers might think that from the perspective of the dog my engagement with its gaze is naively anthropocentric. Literary Hub, 10 June 2026 Educators are no longer naively wondering if students will use generative AI to do their homework for them. Jocelyn Gecker, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2026 Some part of me–naively–trusted that the shoe would be supportive and comfortable, even throughout a 12-hour marathon of dancing and walking around the festival. Kaitlin Clapinski, InStyle, 13 Apr. 2026 Trump has seen previous presidents either kick the can down the road or naively believe that the current Iranian regime could be trusted. Chicago Tribune, 8 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for naively
Adverb
  • Most of these programs are offered through wholesale channels rather than the retail bank on the corner, which is why the loan officer at a national depository may sincerely believe no such option exists.
    Karen Koehler, Miami Herald, 31 Aug. 2026
  • It’s routinely thrown around online, both sincerely and in jest, to describe anything that feels inauthentic.
    Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2026
Adverb
  • Whether Bultaco’s latest revival can turn nostalgia into a genuinely sustainable motorcycle business remains to be seen.
    Bultaco, New Atlas, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Rather than functioning as another Palm Beach stage on which to see and be seen, it’s tucked discreetly behind the hotel, surrounded by greenery and striped loungers—a genuinely private place to disappear for an afternoon.
    Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 4 Sep. 2026
Adverb
  • With it, Kim was able to adjust for the different camera angles and use openly available videos on Baseball Savant to identify the glove as a target and figure out miss distances.
    Eno Sarris, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Bartiromo drew attention for taking a more openly conservative turn in her reporting at Fox after leaving CNBC, where her work had been largely apolitical.
    Steve Kopack, NBC news, 4 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Naively.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/naively. Accessed 7 Sep. 2026.

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