as in naive
lacking in worldly wisdom or informed judgment
sidewalk vendors selling bogus gems to unsuspecting tourists
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Recent Examples of unsuspecting
Cupid will be on the prowl this Valentine's Day weekend, hunting down potential targets to unleash a volley of amorous arrows onto unsuspecting mortals.
—
Jeff Spry, Space.com, 14 Feb. 2026
Tucked into an unsuspecting patch of woods on Detroit’s east side, a new Nordic-style escape is warming up one of the city’s most industrial blocks.
—Duante Beddingfield, Freep.com, 11 Feb. 2026
The plan is to test her theory on an unsuspecting man in increasingly cringey ways.
—Charlie Vargas, Oc Register, 6 Feb. 2026
Consisting entirely of text, the iconoclastic video installation was shown briefly on television, in airtime purchased by the artists, to alert unsuspecting spectators to TV advertising’s role—and their own complicity—in maintaining the status quo.
—Michael Cowan, Artforum, 1 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unsuspecting
Jeff Spry, Space.com, 14 Feb. 2026
Tucked into an unsuspecting patch of woods on Detroit’s east side, a new Nordic-style escape is warming up one of the city’s most industrial blocks.
—Duante Beddingfield, Freep.com, 11 Feb. 2026
The plan is to test her theory on an unsuspecting man in increasingly cringey ways.
—Charlie Vargas, Oc Register, 6 Feb. 2026
Consisting entirely of text, the iconoclastic video installation was shown briefly on television, in airtime purchased by the artists, to alert unsuspecting spectators to TV advertising’s role—and their own complicity—in maintaining the status quo.
—Michael Cowan, Artforum, 1 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unsuspecting
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unsuspecting
Adjective
-
Set a century before the events of Game of Thrones and 72 years after House of the Dragon, A Knight of Seven Kingdom follows two unlikely heroes wandering Westeros … a young, naïve but courageous knight, Ser Duncan the Tall (Peter Claffey), and his diminutive squire, Egg (Dexter Sol Ansell).—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
26 Feb. 2026
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That naïve version of myself has since retired.—
Iman Balagam,
Vogue,
26 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Still, all these innocent inquiries have me even more on edge.—
Melissa Willets,
Parents,
26 Feb. 2026
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But if some of the address was a game show, much of it was a bloody Grand Guignol theater of horror stories, almost all about immigrants preying on the helpless and the innocent.—
Tom Nichols,
The Atlantic,
25 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The officer said the review was needed because an inexperienced employee handled James’ initial vetting.—
Gisela Salomon,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Feb. 2026
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In the book, Krakauer is critical of the guiding companies for leading inexperienced climbers up the mountain despite the extreme dangers.—
Amanda Lee Myers,
USA Today,
26 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Olive oil is also used to dress simple salads, roasted vegetables, and a host of other dishes.—
Condé Nast Traveler,
Condé Nast Traveler,
26 Feb. 2026
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Others have argued that the game represents a simple life that is becoming harder to obtain.—
Jacqui Palumbo,
CNN Money,
26 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
However, Roth IRAs come with rules that could trigger tax penalties for the unwary.—
Greg Iacurci,
CNBC,
18 Nov. 2025
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Nothing can stop unwary parents from relying on the judgment of Donald Trump or Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to make healthcare decisions for their infants and children.—
Michael Hiltzik,
Twin Cities,
16 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unsuspecting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unsuspecting. Accessed 3 Mar. 2026.
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