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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Levine sounds almost naive about the depth of this love.—
Christopher Borrelli,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Jan. 2026
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Why portray Dorothy as a doe-eyed ding-a-ling; as not just naive but dumb?—
Lili Anolik,
Vanity Fair,
12 Jan. 2026
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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Earlier this year, two innocent people were stabbed to death on 16th Street in Denver by an individual who had previously been deemed incompetent and released — one tragic example highlighting gaps in the current system.—
Mike Johnston,
Denver Post,
15 Jan. 2026
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This can include firing at an oncoming vehicle or even a fleeing vehicle if there is a credible assessment that failure to do so will result in the imminent death of police personnel or innocent bystanders.—
Laurence Miller,
Sun Sentinel,
14 Jan. 2026
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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Ten of the top 15 quarterbacks in the portal have already committed, and after that top tier, many of the remaining quarterbacks available are either young, inexperienced passers from Power 4 programs or starters from Group of 5 or FCS schools.—
Sam Khan Jr,
New York Times,
10 Jan. 2026
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According to the University of Massachusetts Global, teacher turnover results in a large number of inexperienced teachers being placed in classrooms, meaning more money is put toward recruiting, hiring and training.—
Jennah Pendleton,
Sacbee.com,
9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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This simple design works well once the engine is already moving very fast.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
15 Jan. 2026
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Do this simple test to find out if your soil is ready.—
Barbara Gillette,
The Spruce,
15 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wide-eyed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wide-eyed. Accessed 21 Jan. 2026.
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