variants also naivete or naiveté
1
2
as in gullibility
readiness to believe the claims of others without sufficient evidence though he was streetwise, the investigative reporter regularly assumed an air of naïveté when he was interviewing confidence men, charlatans, counterfeiters, and other assorted swindlers of the general public

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 naïveté In turn, the film presents the trio as the three versions of womanhood: Pinky’s youth and naivete, Millie’s seductive ambition, and Willie’s maternal homemaker warmth. Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 3 Mar. 2025 There’s a lot of naivete, certainly, in certain forms of popular music. Katherine Turman, SPIN, 3 Feb. 2025 Tascioni is an exuberant person by nature, which many antagonists mistake for naivete. Rachel Elspeth Gross, Forbes, 8 Jan. 2025 Biden’s naivete on the matter can perhaps be excused, but not Trump’s. John Tamny, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024 Perhaps the spectacle of naivete is all part of the Altman image. Allison Morrow, CNN, 5 Dec. 2024 So Americans who don't travel, who 80 percent don't have a passport, who are uneducated, are in their extraordinary naivete. Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 28 Nov. 2024 The naivete is challenging to understand when attackers use virtually every standard tool—from hardware and software to cloud resources—to conduct their operations. Denis Mandich, Forbes, 21 Oct. 2024 Anderson plays Shelley with a consummate sweetness that sometimes registers as naivete. Esther Zuckerman, TIME, 7 Sep. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for naïveté
Noun
  • Sosa had previously claimed his innocence when asked about using PEDs, and had been estranged from his former franchise since his 2007 retirement.
    Anna Lazarus Caplan, People.com, 3 Mar. 2025
  • Their attorneys have maintained the brothers’ innocence.
    Claire Healy, Miami Herald, 1 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • The sandals also earn high marks for their simplicity and versatility.
    BestReviews, The Mercury News, 7 Mar. 2025
  • Phase 4: Making photo selects and designing the story Given the photographs' profound presence, our design approach prioritized intentional restraint and simplicity, aiming to create a supportive framework that would elevate the content.
    Caroline Newton, Bon Appétit, 7 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Bates conducted a monthslong investigation before determining Mosby’s motion to vacate Syed’s conviction was flawed, according to the filing, but did not assess the credibility of the case against Syed.
    Lauren del Valle, CNN, 6 Mar. 2025
  • Building competence in your discipline and consistently delivering results create credibility, open doors to new opportunities, and enable individuals to lead without a formal title.
    Tony Gambill, Forbes, 6 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Philosophy that is aware of our ignorance is a step forward.
    Sean Illing, Vox, 22 Feb. 2025
  • Don the veil of ignorance, however, and the many positives start to make sense.
    Christian Gilbertsen, Robb Report, 13 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • As the second season wears on, this notion warps the plot in ways that strain credulity, and the series’ innumerable cliffhangers gum up the narrative with artificial tension.
    Daniel A. Gross, The New Yorker, 17 Jan. 2025
  • In his absence — and the long-term absences, at various times, of Barnes, Quickley, Barrett, Poeltl, Kelly Olynyk and others — the Raptors have had to throw out some lineups that strain credulity as legitimate NBA lineups.
    Eric Koreen, The Athletic, 29 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • Chicago victims of credit card scam warn others to be on guard: ‘I was just blinded by my naivety’ Chicago victims of credit card scam warn others to be on guard: 'I was just blinded by my naivety' Editorial: Donald Trump uses Democrats as stooges at address to Congress.
    Molly Morrow, Chicago Tribune, 7 Mar. 2025
  • My naivety was expunged in my first few weeks on the job post-graduation.
    Abubakar Adam Ibrahim, The Dial, 4 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Despite the optimism surrounding Trump’s rise to the U.S. presidency, the cryptocurrency market has not experienced the anticipated positive effects.
    Trefis Team, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2025
  • However, there is still reason for optimism with a loaded final slate of the regular season on the horizon.
    Troy Finnegan‎, Newsweek, 26 Feb. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Naïveté.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/na%C3%AFvet%C3%A9. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.

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