variants also naïvety
Definition of naivetynext
chiefly British

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 naivety Elsewhere on that flank, Pedro Lima and Rodrigo Gomes are talented players who, even allowing for the naivety of youth that sometimes undermines their efforts, Wolves are likely to want to keep for next season in the Championship. Steve Madeley, New York Times, 12 May 2026 The reality of their relationship wasn't lost on the singer, despite her naivety about their ability to last. Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Mar. 2026 Whatever your opinion, Theroux has an impressive back catalogue of documentaries worth watching, each one tackling a thorny topic with his signature faux naivety and awkward charm. Irenie Forshaw, TheWeek, 25 Mar. 2026 Stratton called for an immediate increase to $25 an hour — a position her opponents, who supported a gradual increase to $17 per hour, said reflected naivety and a lack of Washington experience. Dan Petrella, Chicago Tribune, 18 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for naivety
Recent Examples of Synonyms for naivety
Noun
  • Robinson has not yet entered a plea, and his attorneys have not commented on his guilt or innocence.
    ABC News, ABC News, 4 July 2026
  • Glazer reminded him of the presumption of innocence and told him not to discuss what happened during his arrest, only to speak privately with his attorney.
    Ana Maria Soler, CBS News, 2 July 2026
Noun
  • By the middle of the nineteenth century, the seriousness and stability of their suits suggested a new naturalness for their authority that came to seem both right and inevitable.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 25 June 2026
  • As a national icon, the Natural Bridge served as a quiet, Emersonian rebuke to Europe’s militaristic triumphal arches, reinforcing the naturalness of American democracy.
    Sebastian Smee, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
Noun
  • Write with simplicity and heart.
    Kim Salem-Jackson, Forbes.com, 26 June 2026
  • That distinction is important because the company sees simplicity as one of its greatest strengths.
    Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 26 June 2026
Noun
  • But in her concentration, Porsha fumbled her words, which made the Faithfuls, who were desperate for a crumb of evidence so early in the game, suspicious of her sincerity.
    Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 29 June 2026
  • Several participants told The Washington Post that they were impressed with the sincerity and humility of the AI firm’s staff in discussing both ethical and spiritual implications.
    The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 29 June 2026
Noun
  • The once-vaunted values of public life are now reduced to the lower standards of private life—venality, vulgarity, rudeness, incontinence, and ignorance.
    Simon Sebag Montefiore, The Atlantic, 28 June 2026
  • Not the innocence of ignorance.
    Anthony Scaramucci, Fortune, 28 June 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Naivety.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/naivety. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on naivety

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster