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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

naïf

2 of 2

noun

variants or naif
as in virgin

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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
  • If Keegan’s Newcastle could be naive and beautiful as well as destructive, Howe built a team of hard-running swarmers who, at their best, would do anything in their power to win.
    — George Caulkin, New York Times, 30 July 2026
  • In that climate, long-term loyalty to a single company can feel naive, even counter to one’s own interests.
    — Kate Vitasek, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
Definition of naive
Noun
  • It was aged for about three decades in ex-bourbon barrels, and then finished in four different cask types for three to six years—virgin Japanese mizunara oak, American virgin oak, Oloroso sherry, and Pedro Ximénez sherry.
    — Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 24 July 2026
  • Erotic Teen Fan Fiction Movie By Morgan Lehmann A teen virgin writing erotic fiction online must collaborate with her school’s promiscuous quarterback when asked to write about her nonexistent love life for a publisher.
    — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 22 July 2026
Definition of virgin
Adjective
  • Lush green grass isn’t possible in all areas of your yard, which is why groundcovers come in handy to fill in those empty spaces.
    — Mallory Carra, The Spruce, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Lord Ormund’s Gambit Lord Ormund has many, many tricks up his green sleeves.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of green
Noun
  • Some innocents are coerced into false confessions, like what happened to the Central Park Five.
    — Rene Denfeld, PEOPLE, 21 July 2026
  • Over 5,000 deaths, most of them for innocents not driving trucks, in 2023 alone.
    — John Tamny, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026
Definition of innocent
Adjective
  • The Dolphins entered camp with a young and relatively inexperienced group of edge rushers, placing the Michigan product in the unusual position of being asked to help lead others while still fighting to reestablish himself.
    — Tyler M. Carmona July 30, Miami Herald, 30 July 2026
  • Others point out working with an inexperienced pitching coach, working behind a bad defense and working without a contract for next season as pieces to the puzzle.
    — Will Sammon, New York Times, 30 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
  • In return, Thao promised to secure lucrative city contracts for a fledgling housing company co-founded by David Duong and Mario Juarez, a two-time City Council candidate and longtime East Bay political operative.
    — Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 27 July 2026
  • The first 20 examples, numbered 001–020/00R, were reserved for supporters of François-Paul Journe's Tourbillon Souverain souscription program, whose deposits helped finance the fledgling manufacture.
    — Anthony DeMarco, Forbes.com, 26 July 2026
Definition of fledgling
Noun
  • Actresses who are no longer ingenues make striking appearances, not only in dramas, but also at formal events.
    — Judith Martin, Mercury News, 6 July 2026
  • Our best ingenues would queue to star as Dora and Nora.
    — Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 10 June 2026
Definition of ingenue

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Cite this Entry

“Naïf.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/na%C3%AFf. Accessed 7 Aug. 2026.

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