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

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Recent Examples of naive Through some naive sleuthing and meddling, the girls manage to bring a corporate retreat out to the ranch in a last-ditch effort to prove there’s still a demand for Natty’s ranch. —

Sara Belcher, People.com, 19 Nov. 2024 Don’t be naive or give anyone the power to make choices for you. —

Eugenia Last, The Mercury News, 13 Nov. 2024 In recent years, the naive belief held by most Americans, that the Fed is an apolitical body of benevolent technocrats who would never use their immense, ring-of-Sauron-like power for anything but the good of humanity, has evaporated. —

Dave Birnbaum, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024 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 See all Example Sentences for naive

Recent Examples of Synonyms for naive

Adjective

And thousands of kits that could free more innocent people have been left untested – again.

Gina Barton, USA TODAY, 5 Dec. 2024
While this sounds easy and innocent enough, FAFSA has the potential to become an insidious tool.

Noreen Sugrue, Forbes, 4 Dec. 2024