variants also naivete or naiveté
1
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 This is the result of naivete: Who would want to hurt little old us? Stephen Marche, The Atlantic, 1 July 2025 The secret is that Spike’s know-nothing naivete encourages us to see the world through the eyes of someone who’s new to every part of it. David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 18 June 2025 Is there intimidation, naivete, fear of being alone? Ew Staff, EW.com, 24 Apr. 2025 On the contrary, the narrative voice mixes naivete and disbelief. Bartolomeo Sala, The Dial, 27 Mar. 2025 One character starts with hope and naivete, and the other with the wisdom that comes from tough, life-altering experiences. Nick Jonas, USA TODAY, 20 Mar. 2025 Thus begins an addictive of melding personal infatuation with messy dynamics, as spirits of domination and naivete co-mingle. Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 6 Mar. 2025 There’s a lot of naivete, certainly, in certain forms of popular music. Katherine Turman, SPIN, 3 Feb. 2025 Our heroes’ naivete is catching, apparently. Kathleen Walsh, Vulture, 5 Jan. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for naïveté
Noun
  • Diddy has maintained his innocence throughout the trial.
    Tracy Wright , Lauryn Overhultz , Maria Paronich , Brendan McDonald, FOXNews.com, 1 July 2025
  • Trump has maintained his innocence and is appealing the rulings in two defamation lawsuits brought by Carroll.
    Morgan Kromer, The Washington Examiner, 30 June 2025
Noun
  • Each brand employs a strikingly similar aesthetic vocabulary: muted color palettes dominated by whites, blacks, and earth tones; sans-serif typography that suggests clinical precision; and packaging that prioritizes geometric simplicity over ornamental flourish.
    Adam Hurly, Robb Report, 24 June 2025
  • In fact, many found AI content to be more personable and enjoyable, possibly due to its simplicity and accessibility.
    Katie Jewett, Forbes.com, 24 June 2025
Noun
  • The bombing campaign against Iraq was only politically possible because Cohen had the credibility to assure his fellow Republicans and the nation that the military wasn’t acting to protect the president’s political interests.
    Time, Time, 1 July 2025
  • Without this trust, even the best AI solution can undermine the company’s credibility.
    Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
Noun
  • In a system built on civilian oversight of military and diplomatic power, ignorance becomes a liability.
    Nuri Kino, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 June 2025
  • But while the veteran Pole lured out of retirement is expected to be offered an extension of his one-year contract which expires on June 30, Barça will reportedly try and force captain Ter Stegen out of the club amid the German’s claims of ignorance on the matter.
    Tom Sanderson, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025
Noun
  • Despite a rocky use of the miscommunication trope the stretches credulity slightly, the novel celebrates love stories and the possibility of magic made real.
    Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 27 Feb. 2025
  • The plot beats that follow Dante’s death strain credulity past its breaking point, and the fun quickly wears thin.
    Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 2 May 2025
Noun
  • Thankfully there are plenty of examples of leaders embracing productive naivety.
    Alexander Puutio, Forbes.com, 9 May 2025
  • Posey, for all his naivety in his new role, is at least empowered by ownership.
    Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 5 June 2025
Noun
  • The financial services firm's latest Business Leaders Outlook Survey, released Wednesday, found that optimism for the economy fell to 32 percent in June from 65 percent in January.
    Hugh Cameron, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 June 2025
  • Such ambition and optimism were pervasive across BIO.
    Nish Acharya, Forbes.com, 25 June 2025

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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 8 Jul. 2025.

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