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naivety

noun

nä-ˈē-və-tē How to pronounce naivety (audio)
variants also naïvety
Definition of naivetynext
chiefly British
as in innocence
the quality or state of being simple and sincere the contention that the royal family took advantage of the young Diana's naivety

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 naivety Spain played their own part, outstanding on the day, but for France, injuries, yellow cards, under-performance and tactical naivety conspired to produce one of the most underwhelming performances in recent World Cup memory by a tournament favourite. — Adam Crafton, New York Times, 16 July 2026 But Iraq’s inability to keep the margin of defeat narrow when that very well could be the tiebreaker for one of the top eight third-place spots showed a bit of naivety that could prove very damaging. — Ian Nicholas Quillen, Forbes.com, 18 June 2026 Willmett and Harris are clearly uninterested in euphemisms, so there’s an exaggerated naivety to their lyrics. — Alex Robert Ross, Pitchfork, 8 June 2026 Twenty years ago, betting on New York as a serious technology hub felt contrarian to the point of naivety. — Patrick Chun, Fortune, 26 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for naivety
Recent Examples of Synonyms for naivety
  1. innocence
  2. naturalness
  3. simplicity
  4. sincerity
  5. ignorance
Noun
  • The Colombians locked up in Haiti have also maintained their innocence, and said they were set up.
    — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 20 Sep. 2026
  • The song celebrates the beauty of one’s native land and the innocence and carefree spirit of childhood.
    — Roberto Prieto, Variety, 20 Sep. 2026
Definition of innocence
Noun
  • The young actors are appealing, led by Lilah Pate and Chabley Ponce; there’s a sweetness and naturalness to their cameraderie that stands out amid so much mugging and gives the film a lift.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 16 Sep. 2026
  • Acted with breathtaking ensemble naturalness, the play seems lived in rather than performed.
    — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of naturalness
Noun
  • Black Beans and Sausage The simplicity of this dish allows the true flavors of each ingredient to shine through, meaning the earthy black beans won’t get lost in translation, even when paired with smoky sausage.
    — Riley Wofford, Martha Stewart, 17 Sep. 2026
  • Ebicos Those who don't mind a permanent camper installation might prefer the simplicity of the Happy Dreamer Electric, which deploys and retracts with a single push of a button.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of simplicity
Noun
  • Cox’s script, meanwhile, trades increasingly in one-size-fits-all therapy speak, and despite Qualley’s natural sincerity as a performer, Maya seems steadily less specific a personality as the years pass.
    — Guy Lodge, Variety, 16 Sep. 2026
  • Like Warhol, Rouy makes work balancing on the razor’s edge between sincerity and cynicism.
    — David Lê, Curbed, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of sincerity
Noun
  • Hartford has a distinguished tradition of standing against ignorance by supporting public education.
    — Nora Oakes Howard, Hartford Courant, 16 Sep. 2026
  • The title refers not only to the horror film my protagonist, Maya, is trying to make, but also to the city’s new masters and to those living in a zombified state of willful ignorance.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of ignorance

Browse Nearby Words

naïveté
naivety
naked
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Naivety.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/naivety. Accessed 24 Sep. 2026.

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