1
as in naive
lacking in worldly wisdom or informed judgment
a wide-eyed and trusting child
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in susceptible
readily taken advantage of
the sort of phony UFO "artifacts" that wide-eyed tourists fall for
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of wide-eyed
That 13-year gap between the world-building first and ocean-plumbing second films allowed film wizardry to progress, so audiences came freshly wide-eyed to James Cameron's gargantuan adventure in 2022.
—
Bob Mondello, NPR, 18 Dec. 2025
So too does Ostan who navigates Lucija’s emerging libido with a wide-eyed innocence on the tipping point of something revelatory and even ethereal.
—David Opie, IndieWire, 4 Dec. 2025
Adlon, now in her late 50s, naturally brings more lived-in warmth to Bobby, now aged up into his early 20s and navigating adulthood with the same wide-eyed earnestness that once fueled his childhood shenanigans.
—Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2025
But some of them prey on us—the wide-eyed, overtired first-time parents still finding our footing, desperate to get out of the house, not knowing what to do or where to go.
—Lauren Boswell, Parents, 30 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for wide-eyed
Bob Mondello, NPR, 18 Dec. 2025
So too does Ostan who navigates Lucija’s emerging libido with a wide-eyed innocence on the tipping point of something revelatory and even ethereal.
—David Opie, IndieWire, 4 Dec. 2025
Adlon, now in her late 50s, naturally brings more lived-in warmth to Bobby, now aged up into his early 20s and navigating adulthood with the same wide-eyed earnestness that once fueled his childhood shenanigans.
—Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2025
But some of them prey on us—the wide-eyed, overtired first-time parents still finding our footing, desperate to get out of the house, not knowing what to do or where to go.
—Lauren Boswell, Parents, 30 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for wide-eyed
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wide-eyed
Adjective
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Ma’s description of enormous, glistening grocery stores could be explained as the musings of a person who longs for stability and plentitude, or of a naive character who thinks of America as a land of boundless riches.—
Tope Folarin,
The Atlantic,
8 Nov. 2025
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But these juvenile white sharks may be naive to orcas.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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The human brain is highly susceptible to often unproductive mind-wandering, and modern technology has only made the problem worse.—
Harvard Business Review,
Harvard Business Review,
7 Jan. 2026
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Common Pests and Diseases Like all plants, hoyas can be susceptible to pests and diseases.—
SJ McShane,
Martha Stewart,
7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.—
Jasmine Baehr,
FOXNews.com,
9 Nov. 2025
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Given sun in just the proper dose, which is no more than three or four hours of direct daily exposure, its innocent look of youth may persist for a decade.—
Joshua Siskin,
Oc Register,
8 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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In October 2023, Jemma DeCristo tweeted on social media there’s easy access to Zionist journalists who spread propaganda and misinformation.—
Ishani Desai,
Sacbee.com,
8 Jan. 2026
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HotHands Hand Warmers are a convenient and easy way to stay warm and provide a boost of heat without taking extra layers.—
Michael Cappetta,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Jokic didn’t overtake Jamal Murray as Denver’s leading scorer until their seventh game of the season, after a 33-point performance Wednesday against a Miami Heat frontcourt that was woefully undersized and inexperienced the instant Bam Adebayo exited with a foot injury.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
8 Nov. 2025
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Henderson has struggled in that role as a rookie, and Jennings is inexperienced at the pro level.—
Doug Kyed,
Boston Herald,
8 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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According to Bruce Blair, a former Air Force launch officer and nuclear policy expert, between 1962 and the mid-1970s the most powerful digits on the globe were simple – eight zeros.—
Charlotte Reck,
CNN Money,
9 Nov. 2025
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That something as simple as a COVID vaccine might improve survival in cancer patients receiving standard immunotherapy has taken oncologists by surprise — in a good way.—
Lisa Jarvis,
Twin Cities,
8 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Wide-eyed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wide-eyed. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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