guileless

adjective

guile·​less ˈgī(-ə)l-ləs How to pronounce guileless (audio)
: innocent, naive
a straightforward man with a guileless smile
guilelessly adverb
guilelessness noun

Examples of guileless in a Sentence

she was an easygoing, guileless young woman who was comfortable just being herself
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But the guileless Sharon eventually cuts loose after making a startling discovery about Sharon’s past, which sets off a criminally funny chain of events. Patrick Ryan, USA TODAY, 13 Sep. 2024 The mood of the film is wistful, a little sad, but ultimately quietly galvanizing, thanks in large part to the actors: Palmi Kormákur plays the young Kristofer as guileless but not clueless, feeling his way along as young people do. Stephanie Zacharek, TIME, 12 July 2024 Mother and daughter had been preparing a dance for the upcoming powwow in Tulsa, and Roki — who boasts a guileless smile — hasn’t been dissuaded by her aunt that anything is amiss. Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 21 June 2024 By the time Elsbeth’s final fitting with Mateo rolls around, the line between secret investigator and seemingly guileless muse-confidante is very blurry. Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 23 May 2024 See all Example Sentences for guileless 

Word History

Etymology

see guile

First Known Use

circa 1616, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of guileless was circa 1616

Dictionary Entries Near guileless

Cite this Entry

“Guileless.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/guileless. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

guileless

adjective
guile·​less ˈgī(ə)l-ləs How to pronounce guileless (audio)
: not sly or tricky : innocent, naïve
a guileless person
a guileless smile
guilelessly adverb
guilelessness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on guileless

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!