NAIVE Synonyms: 173 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

naive

adjective

nä-ˈēv

variants or naïve

Definition of naive next

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

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

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as in easy

readily taken advantage of we get piles of junk mail because you are naive enough to keep entering these dumb contests

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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

Examples 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 Dimon went on to say that the United States needed to avoid being naive and allowing larger global events to play out without any intervention. —

Nina Turner, Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2024 In a bloody good mix of horror comedy and murder mystery, Sam Richardson plays a naive but good-hearted forest ranger new to a small Vermont town out to catch a killer (who may or may not be a werewolf) among the various kooky residents. 55. —

Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 25 Oct. 2024 Solomon might have thought Yoshii had cut ties with the yakuza world for good, but Sugihara warns him not to be so naive. —

Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 27 Sep. 2024 The club has maintained the naive belief that faith in the coach will deliver stability rather than the truth that modern football institutions establish lasting success by building a long-term strategy that is separate from the manager at the helm. —

Zak Garner-Purkis, Forbes, 29 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for naive

Recent Examples of Synonyms for naive

Adjective

Any accusation that Israel's objective was to starve innocent civilians—rather than to compel the surrender of Hamas combatants—is not merely unfounded but a libelous distortion of the truth.

Matt Robison, Newsweek, 21 Nov. 2024
The exhibition’s title nods to both the innocent and the guilty.

Chadd Scott, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024