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
What prosecutors say actually happened inside the Banfields’ Fairfax County home was the result of something far more convoluted and sinister — a deadly catfishing scheme that was motivated by an affair and relied on a fetish website to lure an unsuspecting man to his death.
—
Tim Stelloh, NBC news, 3 Apr. 2026
As ambush predators, the aquatic vegetation provides the perfect spot to sit and wait for an unsuspecting baitfish or crawfish to meander by.
—Derek Horner, Outdoor Life, 2 Apr. 2026
With a pencil and spiral sketchpad in hand, six-year-old Kristina Salinas drew her first figure drawing of an unsuspecting model — her father, Jorge Salinas.
—Vincent T. Davis, San Antonio Express-News, 1 Apr. 2026
An unsuspecting family searching for seashells on a beach four years ago found human remains that have since been identified as a banker from California who had been missing for nearly three decades.
—Saleen Martin, USA Today, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unsuspecting
Tim Stelloh, NBC news, 3 Apr. 2026
As ambush predators, the aquatic vegetation provides the perfect spot to sit and wait for an unsuspecting baitfish or crawfish to meander by.
—Derek Horner, Outdoor Life, 2 Apr. 2026
With a pencil and spiral sketchpad in hand, six-year-old Kristina Salinas drew her first figure drawing of an unsuspecting model — her father, Jorge Salinas.
—Vincent T. Davis, San Antonio Express-News, 1 Apr. 2026
An unsuspecting family searching for seashells on a beach four years ago found human remains that have since been identified as a banker from California who had been missing for nearly three decades.
—Saleen Martin, USA Today, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unsuspecting
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unsuspecting
Adjective
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What became their sound, more so than instrumentation, was this naive form of optimism.—
Jazz Tangcay,
Variety,
16 Apr. 2026
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Any certainty—my certainty—about most guys being good guys seems naive.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Of all of the arguments against the death penalty, the strongest is that even one conviction of an innocent person is both irreversible and ethically untenable.—
Chris Jones,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Apr. 2026
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Of course, the criminal justice system has checks that should prevent innocent people from being convicted of crimes, but that doesn’t mean a prosecutor willing to eschew ethics and norms can’t make someone’s life miserable.—
Barbara McQuade,
Twin Cities,
16 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The Blackhawks understood that handing their defense to a group of young, inexperienced players would be a challenge after the trade deadline.—
Scott Powers,
New York Times,
15 Apr. 2026
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As New York Magazine reported last month, shifts are also crushingly long, the vast majority of managers are young and inexperienced, and contracts often end abruptly without any prior warning.—
Victor Tangermann,
Futurism,
15 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Both include full integration of the climate controls into the screen, requiring more concentration to use and additional steps to make adjustments previously accomplished by pressing a simple button.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 Apr. 2026
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Scientists at Florida International University are developing a drug compound known as CTS2444-32, designed to reach deep brain regions affected by Parkinson's through a simple nasal delivery system.—
Ted Scouten,
CBS News,
15 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Some legal experts said the outcome could lead unwary retirement investors to receive investment advice that's not in their best interest, and cause confusion about the legal obligations that brokers, insurance agents and other financial intermediaries owe to retail investors.—
Greg Iacurci,
CNBC,
30 Mar. 2026
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That can create a trap for unwary taxpayers because the law requires taxpayers to sue for a refund within two years of the IRS disallowing it.—
Tom Cullinan,
Forbes.com,
20 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unsuspecting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unsuspecting. Accessed 22 Apr. 2026.
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