naive

adjective

nä-ˈēv How to pronounce naive (audio)
variants or naïve
Definition of naivenext
1
as in innocent
lacking in worldly wisdom or informed judgment a first-time buyer who was so naive that he believed the salesman's spiel and paid good money for the rusty and broken-down car

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in genuine
free from any intent to deceive or impress others the young girl gave honest and naive answers to the social worker's probing questions

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in easy
readily taken advantage of we get piles of junk mail because you are naive enough to keep entering these dumb contests

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of naive are artless, ingenuous, natural, and unsophisticated. While all these words mean "free from pretension or calculation," naive suggests lack of worldly wisdom often connoting credulousness and unchecked innocence.

politically naive

When can artless be used instead of naive?

The meanings of artless and naive largely overlap; however, artless suggests a naturalness resulting from unawareness of the effect one is producing on others.

artless charm

When is it sensible to use ingenuous instead of naive?

Although the words ingenuous and naive have much in common, ingenuous implies inability to disguise or conceal one's feelings or intentions.

the ingenuous enthusiasm of children

When would natural be a good substitute for naive?

The synonyms natural and naive are sometimes interchangeable, but natural implies lacking artificiality and self-consciousness and having a spontaneousness suggesting the natural rather than the man-made world.

her unaffected, natural manner

In what contexts can unsophisticated take the place of naive?

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

unsophisticated adolescents

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of naive Laurel Melina nicely captures Judy’s growth from a naive newbie to a pistol-packing picture of poise. — Matthew J. Palm, Orlando Sentinel, 7 Mar. 2025 Neither was it based on wishful thinking or naive optimism. — Matthew Scogin, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025 As that incident indicated, Oded was not naive about Palestinian terrorism. — Gershom Gorenberg, The Atlantic, 26 Feb. 2025 This is, at best, naive, but probably very dangerous. — Judith Martin, The Mercury News, 26 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for naive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for naive
  1. innocent
  2. genuine
  3. easy
  4. honest
  5. simple
  6. true
  7. gullible
  8. unsophisticated
Adjective
  • In the final moments of last week’s episode, Hector Ayala, aka the hero White Tiger, was found innocent in his trial against the NYPD then shot and killed on the street by an unknown murderer.
    — Jordan Moreau, Variety, 19 Mar. 2025
  • Man Who Killed Meredith Kercher, Amanda Knox's Roommate in Italy, Is Freed from Prison Still, despite being declared innocent and freed, Knox says she was never allowed to fully live her life again.
    — Gillian Telling, People.com, 19 Mar. 2025
Definition of innocent
Adjective
  • How much of that affection was genuine and how much was gameplay?
    — Dalton Ross, EW.com, 19 Mar. 2025
  • Leaders must cultivate new skills to recognize complexity, evaluate situations accurately, and respond with genuine agility rather than default behaviors.
    — Dan Pontefract, Forbes, 19 Mar. 2025
Definition of genuine
Adjective
  • This is easy to achieve with smart lighting, smart bulbs, and even some smart alarm clocks—such as the Hatch Restore 3 (8/10, WIRED Recommends), which is a sound machine and a sunrise alarm all rolled into one.
    — Louryn Strampe, WIRED, 9 Mar. 2025
  • That transition isn’t easy, and Lee understands there are notable differences in play at this level, particularly the speed of the game.
    — Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 9 Mar. 2025
Definition of easy
Adjective
  • Olivia Culpo is getting honest about what happened during the first trimester of her pregnancy.
    — Ingrid Vasquez, People.com, 19 Mar. 2025
  • Encourage candidates to ask questions and provide honest answers.
    — Rebecca Skilbeck, Forbes, 19 Mar. 2025
Definition of honest
Adjective
  • All of this is a vaguely long-winded way of making a simple point — the outlook for Wolves’ defence has changed dramatically over the course of this season.
    — Steve Madeley, The Athletic, 14 Mar. 2025
  • No code is needed to get started, as a simple click below will activate this offer.
    — Raja Krishnamoorthi, Newsweek, 13 Mar. 2025
Definition of simple
Adjective
  • So Far Yet, despite being the ideal role-playing game — one that should (theoretically) be easy enough to replicate — there’s never been a true sequel, spiritual successor, or flat-out copy that can live up to the standard.
    — Hayes Madsen, Rolling Stone, 16 Mar. 2025
  • More than ever before, women feel the freedom to explore and embrace their true desires without fear of societal rejection.
    — Mark Davis, Newsweek, 16 Mar. 2025
Definition of true
Adjective
  • So be careful out there folks and don’t be gullible.
    — Kirsty Hatcher, People.com, 3 Mar. 2025
  • Until, of course, someone convinces a gullible public—or a U.S. senator—that all research currency, new and old, is created equal.
    — Adam Marcus, The Atlantic, 13 Feb. 2025
Definition of gullible
Adjective
  • Each of those words is unsophisticated alone and devastating when strung together.
    — Joel Stein, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2025
  • Ertz and Gesicki are likely to want to play for contenders, while Conklin and Johnson will look to cash in on a fairly unsophisticated market.
    — Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 11 Feb. 2025
Definition of unsophisticated

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Cite this Entry

“Naive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/naive. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.

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