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 But that naive, first-generation Polish-American girl soon became a force to be reckoned with. —Barbara Ellis, Denver Post, 11 May 2025 The lingering girl-group stereotype of Svengali producers controlling naive singers was not for them. —The New York Times, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 May 2025 Popular wisdom online and off encourages us to be on guard, that bad actors and scammers lurk around every corner, waiting to take advantage of the naive. —Allie Volpe, Vox, 7 May 2025 Caton stars in the thriller as Sammy, also known as Preacher Boy—a naive yet determined musician who hopes to explore his talents outside of his father’s church. —Demicia Inman, VIBE.com, 18 Apr. 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
  • The soap is said to smell like Sweeney’s childhood homeland, the Pacific Northwest, so anyone who has a warm and innocent association with that area’s pine, Douglas fir and earthy moss essence is likely to have that completely ruined.
    — Christie D’Zurilla, Los Angeles Times, 30 May 2025
  • Al Nassr When a YouTuber named Abu Omar dared to do an innocent impression of supervillain Lionel Messi at the home of Cristiano Ronaldo, Al Nassr gave a calm and measured response.
    — Tim Spiers, New York Times, 30 May 2025
Definition of innocent
Adjective
  • That genuine moment became a symbol of love, sacrifice and something deeper — breaking generational cycles.
    — Ashley Vega, People.com, 30 May 2025
  • Samantha seems to have genuine chemistry with Chivon, but his sister Adeena (Sundra Oakley) is not thrilled about the relationship and confronts Samantha about it.
    — Melissa Locker, Time, 30 May 2025
Definition of genuine
Adjective
  • How to Get There The easiest way to reach Extremadura from the U.S. is by flying into Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport, then taking a connecting domestic flight or train.
    — Carlsen Jes, Travel + Leisure, 1 June 2025
  • Jammy red Zinfandel like mid palate with flavors that are supple and light, with bright acidity and easy drinking.
    — Tom Mullen, Forbes.com, 1 June 2025
Definition of easy
Adjective
  • Players appreciated such an honest approach during the Euro 2022 campaign, which garnered mutual respect and trust.
    — Charlotte Harpur, New York Times, 30 May 2025
  • So much of it feels like a fever dream, to be honest, being in Singapore.
    — Alison Herman, Variety, 30 May 2025
Definition of honest
Adjective
  • Ahead of the most important game of the year, Luke Esquivel said the key to a strong performance will be simple.
    — Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 June 2025
  • Track what brings business Your process on LinkedIn is simple.
    — Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 5 June 2025
Definition of simple
Adjective
  • The formula for ‘true tackles’ is slightly more long-winded: tackles + challenges lost + fouls committed.
    — Patrick Boyland, New York Times, 28 May 2025
  • Looking back more than six decades, it’s generally agreed by automotive historians that the 1964 Pontiac GTO was the first true muscle car.
    — Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 27 May 2025
Definition of true
Adjective
  • The results were hilarious, but Gould also won hearts as the affable (if a bit gullible) victim of the ruse.
    — EW Staff, EW.com, 20 Mar. 2025
  • Chamberlain was gullible and naïve, and Chamberlain’s appeasement to Hitler is considered one of the biggest betrayals in modern history.
    — Tom Zirpoli, Baltimore Sun, 11 Mar. 2025
Definition of gullible
Adjective
  • During arguments on Wednesday, Megan Savard — attorney for Carter Hart — said that Howden was an unsophisticated, inarticulate witness who didn’t even dress properly for court.
    — Dan Robson, New York Times, 22 May 2025
  • Kate Rockwell is sweet and wide-eyed as the kind but unsophisticated Jane.
    — Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Apr. 2025
Definition of unsophisticated

Browse Nearby Words

nails (down)
naive
naively
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Cite this Entry

“Naive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/naive. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.

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