1
as in genuine
free from any intent to deceive or impress others
photographs that capture the ingenuous smiles of young children at play
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2
as in naive
lacking in worldly wisdom or informed judgment
the story of an ingenuous newcomer to the big city who outwits the slickers at their own game
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Recent Examples of ingenuous
By the water’s edge, her insecure 25-year-old son, Konstantin (Kodi Smit-McPhee), is mounting a post-apocalyptic play in which his enduring love, ingenuous country girl Nina (Emma Corrin), can act.
—
Hayley Maitland, Vogue, 12 Feb. 2025
The actors effortlessly entwine the droll and the ingenuous, but as Ulman juggles more characters and more plot angles than in her first movie, there isn’t necessarily more payoff.
—Sheri Linden, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
There’s something soft about the play, a little ingenuous and underbrewed.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 16 Apr. 2024
And while some delusions of the self are less opportunistic and others feel more ingenuous, the tilt of reality to suit ourselves is nonetheless slippery.
—Megan O’Grady, New York Times, 12 Nov. 2020
All of this feels rather random, rather personal, rather ingenuous.
—New York Times, 5 Nov. 2021
Jennifer Johnson Cano’s mezzo-soprano was smoothly plangent as Emilia; the tenor Pene Pati was a sweetly ingenuous Cassio.
—New York Times, 22 May 2022
The underdog pick is Cousin Greg (Nicholas Braun), an ingenuous arriviste who, long-limbed and blunder-prone, provides much of the show’s comic relief.
—Naomi Fry, The New Yorker, 1 Nov. 2021
Heathcliff, of course, is the prime example, growing from an ingenuous child into a glowering adult who spins all the considerable evil ever done to him — much of it based on race and class — into justification for his long game of retribution.
—Laura Collins-Hughes, New York Times, 18 Oct. 2022
Hayley Maitland, Vogue, 12 Feb. 2025
The actors effortlessly entwine the droll and the ingenuous, but as Ulman juggles more characters and more plot angles than in her first movie, there isn’t necessarily more payoff.
—Sheri Linden, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
There’s something soft about the play, a little ingenuous and underbrewed.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 16 Apr. 2024
And while some delusions of the self are less opportunistic and others feel more ingenuous, the tilt of reality to suit ourselves is nonetheless slippery.
—Megan O’Grady, New York Times, 12 Nov. 2020
All of this feels rather random, rather personal, rather ingenuous.
—New York Times, 5 Nov. 2021
Jennifer Johnson Cano’s mezzo-soprano was smoothly plangent as Emilia; the tenor Pene Pati was a sweetly ingenuous Cassio.
—New York Times, 22 May 2022
The underdog pick is Cousin Greg (Nicholas Braun), an ingenuous arriviste who, long-limbed and blunder-prone, provides much of the show’s comic relief.
—Naomi Fry, The New Yorker, 1 Nov. 2021
Heathcliff, of course, is the prime example, growing from an ingenuous child into a glowering adult who spins all the considerable evil ever done to him — much of it based on race and class — into justification for his long game of retribution.
—Laura Collins-Hughes, New York Times, 18 Oct. 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ingenuous
Adjective
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But their filing this week suggests that response wasn't genuine.—
Ashley Belanger,
Ars Technica,
7 Mar. 2025
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Donors, for their part, gain peace of mind knowing their contributions are making a genuine, measurable difference—solidifying an enduring partnership in the quest for positive social change.—
Victoria Philips,
Forbes,
7 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Neither was it based on wishful thinking or naive optimism.—
Matthew Scogin,
Forbes,
28 Feb. 2025
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This is, at best, naive, but probably very dangerous.—
Judith Martin,
The Mercury News,
26 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Key Vatican functions, such as preparations for the 2025 Holy Year celebrations, remain unaffected.—
Amanda Castro,
Newsweek,
28 Feb. 2025
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For instance, if a breach occurs in your main network, segmentation helps ensure that VoIP services remain unaffected.—
Ruchir Brahmbhatt,
Forbes,
28 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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In a race against time, Melissa must figure out if an innocent man is going to die for a crime her father really committed.—
Abigail Lee,
Variety,
5 Mar. 2025
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Dangerously selfish, vain and proud, Wilde’s Salome is anything but innocent.—
E.R. Zarevich,
Smithsonian Magazine,
4 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
But to be honest the significant immune support is more than enough to keep me taking it.—
Kiana Murden,
Vogue,
7 Mar. 2025
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Without fair elections, an honest media environment and a credible opposition, voters can’t correct their country’s course at the ballot box, providing competitive authoritarian regimes little incentive to do anything but enrich themselves.—
Elizabeth Shackelford,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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This fund is the simplest way to play the inevitable rise in lithium prices.—
Brett Owens,
Forbes,
1 Mar. 2025
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Prioritizing fitness amid a busy travel schedule, the former Radio City Rockette and The Talk host says her outlook is simple.—
Meredith Lepore,
Travel + Leisure,
1 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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But while Connecticut is largely forested, only about one-tenth of 1% of all forest land in the state is considered true old-growth forest.—
Stephen Underwood,
Hartford Courant,
4 Mar. 2025
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These actions have been saving lives and driving true culture change, creating a safer future for everyone.—
Jem Aswad,
Variety,
4 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The older-younger generational divide emerges in an entirely different way in the latter episodes, with a growing riff between pragmatic (some would say selfish) Gen Xers and more idealistic and collectivist (some would say guileless) younger millennial and Gen Zers.—
James Hibberd,
The Hollywood Reporter,
4 Feb. 2025
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Too much guileless positivity could lean a little Kimmy Schmidt, but Marcie’s innocence and genuine concern for every character grounds Sweeney’s dramedy from going full-tilt self-loathing.—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
24 Jan. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ingenuous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ingenuous. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
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