INGENUOUS Synonyms: 161 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'ingenuous' different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of ingenuous are artless , naive , natural , and unsophisticated . While all these words mean "free from pretension or calculation," ingenuous implies inability to disguise or conceal one's feelings or intentions. // the ingenuous enthusiasm of children

Q: When could 'artless' be used to replace 'ingenuous'?

In some situations, the words artless and ingenuous are roughly equivalent. However, artless suggests a naturalness resulting from unawareness of the effect one is producing on others. // artless charm

Q: When is 'naive' a more appropriate choice than 'ingenuous'?

Although the words naive and ingenuous have much in common, naive suggests lack of worldly wisdom often connoting credulousness and unchecked innocence. // politically naive

Q: When can 'natural' be used instead of 'ingenuous'?

The meanings of natural and ingenuous largely overlap; however, natural implies lacking artificiality and self-consciousness and having a spontaneousness suggesting the natural rather than the man-made world. // her unaffected, natural manner

Q: When would 'unsophisticated' be a good substitute for 'ingenuous'?

While in some cases nearly identical to ingenuous , unsophisticated implies a lack of experience and training necessary for social ease and adroitness. // unsophisticated adolescents

ingenuous

adjective

Definition of ingenuous next

as in genuine

free from any intent to deceive or impress others photographs that capture the ingenuous smiles of young children at play

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in naive

lacking in worldly wisdom or informed judgment the story of an ingenuous newcomer to the big city who outwits the slickers at their own game

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word ingenuous different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of ingenuous are artless, naive, natural, and unsophisticated. While all these words mean "free from pretension or calculation," ingenuous implies inability to disguise or conceal one's feelings or intentions.

the ingenuous enthusiasm of children

When could artless be used to replace ingenuous?

In some situations, the words artless and ingenuous are roughly equivalent. However, artless suggests a naturalness resulting from unawareness of the effect one is producing on others.

artless charm

When is naive a more appropriate choice than ingenuous?

Although the words naive and ingenuous have much in common, naive suggests lack of worldly wisdom often connoting credulousness and unchecked innocence.

politically naive

When can natural be used instead of ingenuous?

The meanings of natural and ingenuous largely overlap; however, natural implies lacking artificiality and self-consciousness and having a spontaneousness suggesting the natural rather than the man-made world.

her unaffected, natural manner

When would unsophisticated be a good substitute for ingenuous?

While in some cases nearly identical to ingenuous, unsophisticated implies a lack of experience and training necessary for social ease and adroitness.

unsophisticated adolescents