NAIVELY Synonyms: 56 Similar and Opposite Words

naively

adverb

variants or naïvely

as in sincerely

without any attempt to impress by deception or exaggeration she naively admitted to the job interviewer that she actually had little work experience

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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 naively 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 Educators are no longer naively wondering if students will use generative AI to do their homework for them. —

Jocelyn Gecker, Fortune, 23 Apr. 2026 Many Marylanders naively believed BGE was simply doing the community a favor. —

Torrey Snow, Baltimore Sun, 15 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 Putting this season aside, the job of coaching one of Scotland’s big two could be naively regarded as a cakewalk. —

The Athletic Staff, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2026 The barely disguised soullessness with which AI leaders operate, perhaps, has provided a window for entrepreneurs to peddle a more humane message, in good faith or not in good faith, naively or cynically. —

Frank Landymore, Futurism, 22 Jan. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for naively

Adverb

For example, someone may sincerely believe a supplement, detox or alternative therapy helped when symptoms may have improved naturally or because of expectation alone.

— Daryl Austin, USA Today, 18 June 2026
The back support was there, and as someone who’s five eleven, that was sincerely appreciated.

— Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 15 June 2026