naïf 1 of 2

variants or naif

naïf

2 of 2

noun

variants or naif

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for naïf
Adjective
  • By enjoying the exciting spectacle, their fans have willingly become mindless followers—idol worshippers who are too misguided, and naive, to see they’re being led toward their own destruction.
    Yvonne Kim, The Atlantic, 12 Sep. 2025
  • Speaking of burnout, that was the ultimate destination for the generation that came before, singed by their naive belief that adopting a neo-Stakhanovite approach to work and careers would pay off.
    Dave Smith, Fortune, 11 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Predictably, the hubbub surrounding the photo was eventually framed as a war between uptight virgins and godless heathens, with a quieter contingent astounded only by the fact that this kind of marketing could still be so effective.
    Amanda Petrusich, New Yorker, 2 Sep. 2025
  • Underwood, 33, was known for being a virgin during his time on Becca Kufrin’s season of The Bachelorette, and his subsequent run as the season 23 Bachelor.
    Liza Esquibias, People.com, 18 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • The next group is carbon-neutral fuels—biofuels and green methanol.
    Michaila Byrne, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025
  • The Dow ended the day in the green but significantly off session highs, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite closed the session lower.
    Alex Harring, CNBC, 18 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Praying with your feet means to move, to advance, to take, literally, steps to make sure innocents are not gunned down in church or school by a madman.
    Joe Soucheray, Twin Cities, 6 Sep. 2025
  • But when innocents get dragged into the mess Robbie has created, the task force becomes more important than any of its members appear ready to handle.
    Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 28 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Clearly frustrated, Palencia gave up five runs and recorded zero outs during the ninth inning of that 6-3 loss to the Washington Nationals, a last-place team with a largely inexperienced and nondescript lineup.
    Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2025
  • Having won five straight Ryder Cups and 12 of the last 13, the American team entered as the heavy favorite despite fielding a relatively inexperienced squad.
    Tim Corlett, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • This honor arrives just three months after the fledgling restaurant earned a Michelin star in the California Michelin Guide.
    Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Sep. 2025
  • The Founders were part-time statesmen whose duty was to put the long-term interests of the fledgling republic ahead of personal interests.
    Les Rubin, Boston Herald, 7 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Flecks of mica and pyrite and who knows what, but only fools and greenhorns mistake it for gold.
    John Archibald, Southern Living, 25 May 2025
  • The indestructible Gill, still strolling the fairways of the magazine, was more than welcoming to a greenhorn.
    Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 5 May 2025
Noun
  • This includes the eyeball alien that’s possessed the sheep, a rapidly growing Xenomorph, and large, flying bug-like creatures that have made a little hive for themselves.
    Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
  • Skip the sheep-counting and cup of chamomile, and luxuriate in the sleep-inducing blend of calming lavender oil, soothing balsam resin, moisturizing sweet almond oil, and relaxing magnesium salt flakes instead.
    Sophia Panych, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025
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.

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Cite this Entry

“Naïf.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/na%C3%AFf. Accessed 19 Sep. 2025.

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