variants
or naif
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
variants
or naif
as in virgin
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of naïf
Dennis Harvey, Variety, 3 July 2025
David himself is a generic naif whose sole distinguishing trait is a passion for music, curiously sung in unsubtitled Hebrew while the spoken dialogue is in English.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 27 Feb. 2025
Rogan, wearing his persona as a babe-in-the-woods naif, listened to this nonsense in slack-jawed stupefaction.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 12 Dec. 2024
Both stand in stark contrast to the naif played by Daniela Komędera, who enjoys any prompts for activities and appears glad to be relieved of any opportunity to have to think for herself.
—Stephen Saito, Variety, 20 Mar. 2025
David himself is a generic naif whose sole distinguishing trait is a passion for music, curiously sung in unsubtitled Hebrew while the spoken dialogue is in English.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 27 Feb. 2025
Rogan, wearing his persona as a babe-in-the-woods naif, listened to this nonsense in slack-jawed stupefaction.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 12 Dec. 2024
Farrow, presenting in the early scenes as an utter naif, discovers the pleasures of running cons; LuPone, who shows up a hellion, develops a sensitivity and nurturing spirit to the lost soul who’s provided her character a home.
—Daniel D'addario, Variety, 13 Sep. 2024
Angourie Rice plays our ostensible heroine Cady Heron as more of an earnest naif.
—Katie Walsh, Twin Cities, 11 Jan. 2024
Meghan Cox Gurdon, WSJ, 21 Nov. 2023
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
Adjective
Glusman is perfectly fine, but the writing leaves this figure too much of a naif to seem threatening or to be credible when Elliot somehow circumvents Sophie’s protective barriers.
—Dennis Harvey, Variety, 3 July 2025
David himself is a generic naif whose sole distinguishing trait is a passion for music, curiously sung in unsubtitled Hebrew while the spoken dialogue is in English.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 27 Feb. 2025
Rogan, wearing his persona as a babe-in-the-woods naif, listened to this nonsense in slack-jawed stupefaction.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 12 Dec. 2024
Both stand in stark contrast to the naif played by Daniela Komędera, who enjoys any prompts for activities and appears glad to be relieved of any opportunity to have to think for herself.
—Stephen Saito, Variety, 20 Mar. 2025
David himself is a generic naif whose sole distinguishing trait is a passion for music, curiously sung in unsubtitled Hebrew while the spoken dialogue is in English.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 27 Feb. 2025
Rogan, wearing his persona as a babe-in-the-woods naif, listened to this nonsense in slack-jawed stupefaction.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 12 Dec. 2024
Farrow, presenting in the early scenes as an utter naif, discovers the pleasures of running cons; LuPone, who shows up a hellion, develops a sensitivity and nurturing spirit to the lost soul who’s provided her character a home.
—Daniel D'addario, Variety, 13 Sep. 2024
Angourie Rice plays our ostensible heroine Cady Heron as more of an earnest naif.
—Katie Walsh, Twin Cities, 11 Jan. 2024
Noun
Most illustrators play up the coziness of the tale, what with children all snug in their beds dreaming of sugarplums and suchlike, but the friendly lines and marzipan colors of Ms. Beech’s naif illustrations take coziness to a new level.
—Meghan Cox Gurdon, WSJ, 21 Nov. 2023
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for naïf
Adjective
-
The oldest boy of 11 children was determined to succeed, but not naive.—
Edgar Thompson,
The Orlando Sentinel,
5 Aug. 2025
-
As naive as that may sound in a world where so many self-evident rights and wrongs are being routinely, dishonestly evaluated and reevaluated, the series elevates simple truths in ways that are downright inspirational.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
4 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Some Muslim men believe that the reward for killing infidels is 72 virgins in the afterlife.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
1 Aug. 2025
-
Hulu has rallied Colton Underwood and Kaitlyn Bristowe to co-host its new reality dating show for virgins.—
Lynette Rice,
Deadline,
21 July 2025
Adjective
-
Prices range from 350 euros for a cord bracelet with an 18-karat gold vermeil tooth set with green tsavorite, to 2,300 euros for a gold vermeil molar necklace.—
Joelle Diderich,
Footwear News,
4 Aug. 2025
-
The Water Drench Ice-Facial Cooling Mist is infused with hydrating hyaluronic acid, brightening caffeine, and a trio of antioxidant-rich green, red, and white tea to protect skin from damage caused by free radicals.—
Lily Wohlner,
Allure,
4 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Too bad it’s taken the unspeakable suffering of babies, families and innocents to get us here.—
Lorraine Ali,
Mercury News,
5 Aug. 2025
-
That included killing the aforementioned innocent (and some not-so-innocent) bystanders in some wickedly gruesome and unexpected ways.—
Chris McMullen,
Space.com,
2 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Advertisement Kamiya successfully turned his fledgling party of disillusionment with the system into one that could compete with the system by capitalizing on his success as an influencer.—
Chad de Guzman,
Time,
1 Aug. 2025
-
Major League Baseball just purchased an equity stake in the fledgling Athletes Unlimited Softball League, installing former MLB exec Kim Ng as commissioner and pledging MLB Network airtime, a first-of-its-kind bet on women’s pro ball.—
Jenny Catlin,
New York Times,
1 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Flecks of mica and pyrite and who knows what, but only fools and greenhorns mistake it for gold.—
John Archibald,
Southern Living,
25 May 2025
-
The indestructible Gill, still strolling the fairways of the magazine, was more than welcoming to a greenhorn.—
Anthony Lane,
New Yorker,
5 May 2025
Noun
-
This tangy, soft, Mediterranean staple is made from goat's or sheep's milk.—
Cristina Mutchler,
Verywell Health,
4 Aug. 2025
-
The odd bunch of animals seized consisted of horses, camels, goats, rams, sheep and tortoises.—
Rey Covarrubias Jr,
AZCentral.com,
3 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
The race has drawn 10 entries paced by Iron Man Cal, a Joyful Dreams colt that finished second in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Del Mar last Nov. 1.—
Bill Center,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 July 2025
-
Full of confidence and eager to prove the worth of his colt, the veteran conditioner brilliantly prepared Forever Young for another run on American soil in the 2024 Breeders’ Cup Classic.—
Danny Brewer,
Forbes.com,
6 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Naïf.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/na%C3%AFf. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
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