variants or naïve
1
2
3

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 The actor plays Lochlan Ratliff, the naive son of Timothy and Victoria, who gets swept away in his family’s crazy antics. Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 16 Mar. 2025 Her naive ignorance to her father’s condition is both relatable and tragic, and gives weight to an older Sophie who could have very well inherited her father’s trauma and depression. Travis Bean, Forbes, 13 Mar. 2025 But where Sematary drew inspiration from underground rap, Ghost Mountain’s earliest obsessions were indie bands like Modest Mouse and the Unicorns, whose anxious songs and caterwauling vocals struck a chord somewhere between naive and degenerate. Meaghan Garvey, Pitchfork, 13 Mar. 2025 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 See All Example Sentences for naive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for naive
Adjective
  • At first, his relationship with Claire seemed innocent enough.
    Christina Pérez, Vogue, 31 Mar. 2025
  • The show follows an innocent father (Worthington) serving life in prison for the murder of his own son.
    Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 31 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Without further context, the statement feels hollow — lacking both accountability and a genuine acknowledgment of the culture that made the boot iconic.
    Tiana Randall, Forbes.com, 1 Apr. 2025
  • Is this the genuine cargo or some wiry wisp of a Ringo impersonator?
    Mark Leibovich, The Atlantic, 31 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • But where this Star truly shined (that was too easy) was in giving a despondent Cedrek a pep talk after his disastrous challenge performance.
    Dalton Ross, EW.com, 3 Apr. 2025
  • His first outing of 2025 wasn’t necessarily easy for him either, with the Marlins taking four runs (two earned) off of him in a 4-2 loss Tuesday night at LoanDepot Park.
    Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 2 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Viola Davis shared an honest admission about a past interaction with the late Chadwick Boseman.
    DeMicia Inman, VIBE.com, 31 Mar. 2025
  • The current lawsuits still need to play out in the courts, but the cases have brought attention to the need for TV brands to be honest about the capabilities of their QD TVs.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 31 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • That simplicity feels so apt for this show, There's enough here: The production is simple and sweet, while Jonas and Warren exude a certain magnetism.
    Shania Russell, EW.com, 7 Apr. 2025
  • But an attack can be much simpler — and can stop once a user has given away their credentials.
    Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 6 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The same is true for picking up concertgoers after the show.
    Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 28 Mar. 2025
  • Arguing that the Smithsonian somehow misleads people, somehow is unpatriotic, somehow is saying things that are not true.
    Elizabeth Blair, NPR, 28 Mar. 2025
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
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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Naive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/naive. Accessed 12 Apr. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on naive

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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