1
as in plain
free from all additions or embellishment
a simple design, and one that never goes out of fashion
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in unaffected
free from any intent to deceive or impress others
growing up in simple innocence
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in pure
having no exceptions or restrictions
that's the simple truth
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in easy
involving minimal difficulty or effort
I got all of the answers right because it was such a simple test
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in naive
lacking in worldly wisdom or informed judgment
developers mistakenly thought that the local residents were simple people who would sell their land for practically nothing
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in ignorant
lacking in education or the knowledge gained from books
the fact that he didn't go to college doesn't mean he's simple
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
as in dumb
not having or showing an ability to absorb ideas readily
don't be so quick to characterize people who have trouble with computers as simple
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 simple
Wear them with a smooth button-down shirt to the office or with a simple T-shirt to run errands.
—
Rylee Johnston, PEOPLE, 18 Oct. 2025
And as immigration raids escalated in the spring of this year, fear began to cloud simple outings like family trips to the park.
—Faith Karimi, CNN Money, 18 Oct. 2025
This is a simple offer from FanDuel Sportsbook.
—Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Oct. 2025
Or perhaps there was a simpler explanation.
—Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for simple
Rylee Johnston, PEOPLE, 18 Oct. 2025
And as immigration raids escalated in the spring of this year, fear began to cloud simple outings like family trips to the park.
—Faith Karimi, CNN Money, 18 Oct. 2025
This is a simple offer from FanDuel Sportsbook.
—Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Oct. 2025
Or perhaps there was a simpler explanation.
—Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for simple
Recent Examples of Synonyms for simple
Adjective
-
The promise of artificial intelligence is that the desktop will disappear entirely and users will only interact with a chatbot or a voice that will carry out their bidding through plain language alone, morphing the entire computer into an anthropomorphized character.—
Kyle Chayka,
New Yorker,
22 Oct. 2025
-
It can be enjoyed plain, sweetened, or with a squeeze of lemon.—
Jillian Kubala,
Health,
22 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Kam Patterson is funny here as the one unaffected participant, who curiously studied Gothic Literature!—
Andy Hoglund,
Entertainment Weekly,
19 Oct. 2025
-
Tech contributions in this straight-on underslant are appropriately unaffected.—
Duane Byrge,
HollywoodReporter,
19 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The Kinahans seemed to be acting out of pure rage.—
Ed Caesar,
New Yorker,
20 Oct. 2025
-
Always test the paint on a pure white backdrop so underlying colors don’t distort the white shade.—
Sophie Flaxman,
Better Homes & Gardens,
20 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
When laundry day rolls around, simply throw the durable topper in the laundry with the rest of your bedding for easy maintenance and tumble dry with no heat.—
Maggie Horton,
PEOPLE,
21 Oct. 2025
-
It will soon be connected to Oaxaca City next year for easy access.—
Kathleen Wong,
USA Today,
21 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Trump isn’t naive and knows that Netanyahu has incentives to preserve electoral support by remaining a wartime leader.—
Faisal J. Abbas,
semafor.com,
16 Oct. 2025
-
Gabber’s got this naive brutality to it.—
Alma Rota,
Rolling Stone,
14 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
But there are also Black folks who are ignorant of this.—
Andre Gee,
Rolling Stone,
21 Oct. 2025
-
The pilot has moments both sweet and funny, and sets up the possibility of romance amongst the characters, as well as further high jinks from a rotating cast of license seekers and citizens ignorant of the requirements for a Real ID.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
11 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
And, in one of the dumbest and most obviously racist postr taken by a presidential candidate, at some point Republicans became fixated on the idea that Haitian migrants were stealing pets for food in the Midwest.—
Sal Rodriguez,
Oc Register,
18 Oct. 2025
-
After Johnson gave his answer to that resolutely dumb question, several other luminaries took a whack at the zeitgeist piñata.—
Anthony Crupi,
Sportico.com,
17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
In a photo posted to her own Instagram, the proud mom showed off a silhouette of her bare baby bump in a mirror selfie.—
Hannah Sacks,
PEOPLE,
17 Oct. 2025
-
The pair performed the record in its most bare form, trading verses back and forth before harmonizing together on the chorus.—
Larisha Paul,
Rolling Stone,
17 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Simple.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/simple. Accessed 24 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share