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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 The wily sneaker, all black with a design that resembles real-life Air Jordans, sees Ty as a mark and wants to steal the naive shoe’s bling — the diamonds and gold accents on his body. Lovia Gyarkye, HollywoodReporter, 18 Apr. 2025 Don’t be naive and offer $500 for a premium domain name. Allbusiness, Forbes.com, 13 May 2025 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 See All Example Sentences for naive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for naive
Adjective
  • To insinuate yourself into someone’s life, the biggest manipulators act like the most innocent victims.
    Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 9 June 2025
  • Loew was made the mark in a kind of confidence game, Schulberg recalls, with Thalberg and Mayer putting on a show of activity at the failing Louis B. Mayer Productions that nonetheless impressed the Hollywood innocent.
    Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 9 June 2025
Adjective
  • Learning to be resilient from the inside out is essential for developing genuine capacity and successfully navigating challenging times.
    Melissa Cidado, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025
  • DeBlois dials the cuteness quotient back somewhat while giving this massive animal a genuine presence.
    Peter Debruge, Variety, 9 June 2025
Adjective
  • But school officials across the country worry that making lawsuits easier to win will create a more adversarial relationship between parents and schools in the difficult negotiations needed to balance a student’s needs with a school’s limited resources.
    Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 13 June 2025
  • Reach for hydrogen peroxide to make cleaning easier.
    Lauren David, Southern Living, 13 June 2025
Adjective
  • How can leaders conduct honest conversations without inspiring defensiveness, denial, or backlash?
    Lauren Howe, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025
  • One of those fans, apparently, is singer Ciara, who recently urged the Harlem artist to make Lampkin an honest women after running into the rapper in the BET Awards press room this weekend.
    Jessica Bennett, VIBE.com, 9 June 2025
Adjective
  • In addition to experiencing a surge of sensual energy with greater emphasis on life’s simple pleasures, Venus in Taurus has everything to do with feeling grounded and finding stability in both love and finances.
    Valerie Mesa, People.com, 5 June 2025
  • The way to peace is simple: get Hamas out and get aid in.
    New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 5 June 2025
Adjective
  • Hoang said the online allegations — none of which were true — led to threats of violence against the university, and there was talk that some parents withdrew their children because of them.
    Stephanie Yang, Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2025
  • Born in Seattle, Schmetzer was a true two-way midfielder as a player with defensive steel and an eye for creating chances.
    Jeff Rueter, New York Times, 8 June 2025
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
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

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Cite this Entry

“Naive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/naive. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.

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