naïf 1 of 2

adjective

variants or naif
Definition of naïfnext
as in naive
lacking in worldly wisdom or informed judgment the senator, newly elected and still naïf, will learn soon enough how Washington really works

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

naïf

2 of 2

noun

variants or naif
as in virgin

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

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 naïf
Adjective
Colorful naif pictures by Katie Hickey and text arranged in substantial chunks make this perfect for browsing by young readers with an interest in engineering or architecture. — Meghan Cox Gurdon, WSJ, 12 Aug. 2022
Noun
In his directorial debut, Early, who also wrote the film, plays Maddie, a blonde naif who skyrockets to viral fame for recipes created in the test kitchen of GourMaybe, a fictional but winkingly all-too-familiar online content hub. — Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 18 June 2026 There is a risk of turning Artie into a naif, but in her careful, close observations, his depths become increasingly legible. — John Warner, Chicago Tribune, 2 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for naïf
Recent Examples of Synonyms for naïf
  1. naive
  2. virgin
  3. green
  4. innocent
  5. inexperienced
  6. greenhorn
  7. fledgling
  8. ingenue
Adjective
  • Julius seems to have approached his spying with a sprightly, if naive, enthusiasm.
    — Amy Weiss-Meyer, The Atlantic, 10 July 2026
  • The show also depicts how the railroad set a precedent for other big businesses to lure in naive citizens seeking their own slice of the American dream.
    — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 9 July 2026
Definition of naive
Noun
  • In another, called Leucippe and Clitophon, Leucippe is saved from being sacrificed as a virgin by the timely appearance of an actor who uses theatre tricks used to perform deaths on stage to fake her death and spirit her away.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 30 June 2026
  • Some recycled materials are on par, some are cheaper with virgin, others more expensive, and every single scenario is different.
    — James Morris, Forbes.com, 27 June 2026
Definition of virgin
Adjective
  • The ornate vehicle holding the coffins is white and green, according to footage from Reuters.
    — Xiaoqian Lin, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
  • Flashes of red, green and white glow over the dark waters of Lake Sinclair on a warm Saturday morning in May.
    — Jack Leo, AJC.com, 6 July 2026
Definition of green
Noun
  • Over 5,000 deaths, most of them for innocents not driving trucks, in 2023 alone.
    — John Tamny, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026
  • Whatever conclusions investigators might reach, the loss of at least 50 souls, and the wounding of dozens more innocents, is an unbearable blow for any community.
    — Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 12 June 2026
Definition of innocent
Adjective
  • Hillmann said that the high percentage of inexperienced foreigners today makes the Pamplona bull runs particularly dangerous.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 6 July 2026
  • Leaders in at least three counties have publicly spoken out against Alfonso as being too inexperienced for the job and questioned Duffy’s influence.
    — Scott Bauer, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
Definition of inexperienced
Noun
  • Flecks of mica and pyrite and who knows what, but only fools and greenhorns mistake it for gold.
    — John Archibald, Southern Living, 11 June 2026
  • The indestructible Gill, still strolling the fairways of the magazine, was more than welcoming to a greenhorn.
    — Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 5 May 2025
Definition of greenhorn
Noun
  • Zao Asian Grill is the latest chain to join the fledgling dining and retail district, which is located at the corner of State Street (Idaho 44) and Edgewood Lane.
    — Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 10 July 2026
  • There’s a lot of bad crowd work out there, just like there is bad anything else — fledgling or whatever rookie stuff.
    — Deputy Entertainment, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026
Definition of fledgling
Noun
  • Our best ingenues would queue to star as Dora and Nora.
    — Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 10 June 2026
  • Kerry Washington’s gold Oscar de la Renta halter neck dress called back to ’70s glam, while Chase Infiniti was every part the ingenue in a bubblegum Louis Vuitton gown—accessorized to boot with a tulle and organza stole.
    — Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 2 June 2026
Definition of ingenue

Browse Nearby Words

naiads
naïf
naïfs
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Naïf.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/na%C3%AFf. Accessed 17 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation
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!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of obdurate

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 17
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
child-detective
Spot the Misspelled Word July 2026 Those little red underlines can't help you now...
See All