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
  • None of the men — including Lennon, who details the murder that led to his incarceration — attempt to convince us of their innocence.
    John J. Lennon, Rolling Stone, 23 Sep. 2025
  • From the start, Cédric has steadfastly maintained his innocence.
    KC Baker, PEOPLE, 23 Sep. 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 unique blend adds a punch of additional tangy flavor that perfectly complements the creaminess and simplicity of basic egg salad.
    Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 26 Sep. 2025
  • Clean lines, oversized custom windows, and an airy open-concept design create a modern elegance rooted in simplicity and natural light.
    Miriam Schwartz, Boston Herald, 25 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Its credibility will rest on who is chosen to serve.
    Vilas Dhar, Time, 25 Sep. 2025
  • Damaging the Fed’s credibility could interfere with one of the institution’s core missions of keeping inflation in check, the brief said.
    Bryan Mena, CNN Money, 25 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Also, don’t mistake your own ignorance & apathy as universal or admirable.
    Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Sep. 2025
  • My only advice is to NOT believe her if MIL tries to claim ignorance of the dangers that have informed your decision about phones.
    Virginia Chamlee, PEOPLE, 15 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Action movies have long strained the limits of credulity.
    Brian Truitt, USA Today, 3 July 2025
  • His credulity led to misadventures the details of which are so picayune that Chernow’s emphasis on them can be maddening.
    Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 9 May 2025
Noun
  • 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
  • There’s less of a child-like sense of innocence and naivety.
    Abbey White, HollywoodReporter, 17 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.

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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 29 Sep. 2025.

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