unsophisticated

adjective

ˌən-sə-ˈfi-stə-ˌkā-təd How to pronounce unsophisticated (audio)
Definition of unsophisticatednext
as in naive
lacking in worldly wisdom or informed judgment unsophisticated teens and young adults hoping to expand their world view by spending a year abroad

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word unsophisticated different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of unsophisticated are artless, ingenuous, naive, and natural. While all these words mean "free from pretension or calculation," unsophisticated implies a lack of experience and training necessary for social ease and adroitness.

unsophisticated adolescents

Where would artless be a reasonable alternative to unsophisticated?

While in some cases nearly identical to unsophisticated, artless suggests a naturalness resulting from unawareness of the effect one is producing on others.

artless charm

When would ingenuous be a good substitute for unsophisticated?

The meanings of ingenuous and unsophisticated largely overlap; however, ingenuous implies inability to disguise or conceal one's feelings or intentions.

the ingenuous enthusiasm of children

When is naive a more appropriate choice than unsophisticated?

The words naive and unsophisticated can be used in similar contexts, but naive suggests lack of worldly wisdom often connoting credulousness and unchecked innocence.

politically naive

When might natural be a better fit than unsophisticated?

While the synonyms natural and unsophisticated are close in meaning, natural implies lacking artificiality and self-consciousness and having a spontaneousness suggesting the natural rather than the man-made world.

her unaffected, natural manner

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 unsophisticated For Candy, getting to play the unsophisticated traveling salesman, a big man like himself, gave him an opportunity to showcase both his flair for broad comedy and, for the first time onscreen, his innate vulnerability. —Lizz Schumer, PEOPLE, 7 Oct. 2025 And there’s been this story that retail investors are unsophisticated. —Fortune Editors, Fortune, 27 Aug. 2025 Although the answer was reasonable for an unsophisticated seller, the listing agent should have required confirmation of licensing status with the Registrar of Contractors. —Christopher A. Combs, AZCentral.com, 5 Aug. 2025 Gale was deemed old-fashioned and her focus on small-town Midwestern life was thought to be unsophisticated. —Deborah Williams july 14, Literary Hub, 14 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for unsophisticated
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unsophisticated
  1. naive
  2. simple
  3. innocent
  4. primitive
  5. inexperienced
  6. immature
Adjective
  • Critics say Starmer was, at best, naive in not recognizing the risks involved.
    — JILL LAWLESS THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, Arkansas Online, 5 Feb. 2026
  • Critics say Mandelson’s ties with Epstein made his appointment too risky and Starmer was, at best, naive.
    — Jill Lawless, Chicago Tribune, 5 Feb. 2026
Definition of naive
Adjective
  • Feltner’s routine was pretty simple.
    — Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 12 Feb. 2026
  • Crime 101 takes the same view of quid pro quo as the most basic form of American commerce and makes simple but brutal points about value and self-worth, where your car, its year, make and model, matters more than your resumé.
    — Damon Wise, Deadline, 11 Feb. 2026
Definition of simple
Adjective
  • Chris Harrison sparked controversy Wednesday for a seemingly innocent request posted on social media.
    — Tracy Wright, FOXNews.com, 5 Feb. 2026
  • The modern Western culture around nudity really teaches you shame about something that is so human and natural and innocent.
    — Nicola Dall'Asen, Allure, 5 Feb. 2026
Definition of innocent
Adjective
  • Initially, these are very primitive – buy coffee, take a photo of a receipt in a cafe.
    — Daria Tarasova-Markina, CNN Money, 11 Feb. 2026
  • Later on, as some of the brightest extended objects visible with even the most primitive of telescopes, planetary nebulae are numerous and prominent in the catalogues of astronomers, with the first ones spotted way back in the 1700s.
    — Big Think, Big Think, 11 Feb. 2026
Definition of primitive
Adjective
  • All of Quigley’s challengers are politically inexperienced but impassioned Democrats running to the incumbent’s left.
    — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 11 Feb. 2026
  • The most common complaints include denying legitimate claims, partnering with inexperienced and unqualified service providers, poor service, and slow response times.
    — Sharon Brandwein, USA Today, 6 Feb. 2026
Definition of inexperienced
Adjective
  • The film’s vintage patina doesn’t detract from rising actor Will Price’s confident performance as an immature mobster who prefers bitcoin to stacks of Benjamins.
    — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 2026
  • Unlike older drugs, this formula safely accounts for a baby’s immature metabolism.
    — Kwesi Akonu Adom Mensah Forson, The Conversation, 26 Jan. 2026
Definition of immature

Browse Nearby Words

unsolvable
unsophisticated
unsophistication
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Cite this Entry

“Unsophisticated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unsophisticated. Accessed 17 Feb. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on unsophisticated

Nglish: Translation of unsophisticated for Spanish Speakers

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