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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for naïveté
Noun
  • Due process would allow for potential Cinnas to demonstrate innocence and remove themselves from the unwarranted threat; without it, everyone is imperiled.
    JSTOR Daily, JSTOR Daily, 23 Oct. 2025
  • In addition to receiving his literary gifts with sometimes maddening innocence, rural Kansas made the pleasant discovery that Truman Capote’s personal characteristics are accented by an irrepressible capacity for enjoyment.
    Lizz Schumer, PEOPLE, 21 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • And in a world where time is money, conditions are ripe for a perfect storm of greed, deceit, and willful gullibility—all in the hope of getting ahead faster than the rest.
    Luis E. Romero, Forbes.com, 27 Aug. 2025
  • Ignoring the problem of online gullibility felt irresponsible – even negligent.
    Sam Wineburg, The Conversation, 26 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • The visual simplicity of mobile phone exchanges, personal photos and Fatma’s own images of her city and people, creates a sense of closeness and immediacy, drawing us into the daily reality of life under siege.
    Christian Blauvelt, IndieWire, 24 Oct. 2025
  • This luggage set from Wrangler is built for travelers who want function, durability and simplicity at a solid price.
    Nora Colomer may earn a commission if you buy through our referral links. This content was created by a team that works independently from the Fox newsroom., FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The threat drew credibility from the recent strikes on Iran.
    Eric Cortellessa, Time, 23 Oct. 2025
  • Upheaval at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has plunged Kentucky's public health infrastructure into a state of confusion and uncertainty, officials said, and some local departments are beginning to question the credibility of the agency's guidance.
    Connor Giffin, Louisville Courier Journal, 23 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • This is not, Vance’s studied ignorance notwithstanding, a normal way of doing business.
    Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2025
  • The holiday also commemorates the triumph of knowledge over ignorance centuries ago.
    Angela Chitkara, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • To imagine Israel blindsiding Washington in this most sensitive theater strains credulity.
    Dan Perry, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
  • All of it — again, apparently done with no warning or prep time for Levy — comes off with bizarre credulity.
    Kathryn VanArendonk, Vulture, 3 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • But this removal from war’s true horrors brought a bit of naivety to the movement.
    JSTOR Daily, JSTOR Daily, 15 Oct. 2025
  • Yes, there is naivety to his play at times — that is inevitable for one so young, and was evident again when he was booked for a dive just before the interval.
    Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 22 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Gilbert’s colloquial style, once a source of great pleasure, has tipped into new territory—an ingenuousness that blends guru and disciple, mother and child.
    Jia Tolentino, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2025
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.

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Naïveté.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/na%C3%AFvet%C3%A9. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!