as in naive
lacking in worldly wisdom or informed judgment
sidewalk vendors selling bogus gems to unsuspecting tourists
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Recent Examples of unsuspecting
Set in the working class suburbs of Philadelphia, an FBI agent (Mark Ruffalo) heads a task force to put an end to a string of violent robberies led by an unsuspecting family man (Tom Pelphrey).
—
Ryan Schwartz, TVLine, 6 Sep. 2025
The YouTuber greets everyone — fan on the street, friend, foe, sitting Congressmen, and unsuspecting Rolling Stone staffer — the same, with a cheerful smile and an already rolling camera crew.
—Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 5 Sep. 2025
After taking the unsuspecting gang members by surprise, police and task force members then engaged in a firefight, said the police source.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 2 Sep. 2025
The viral video is a testament to the fact that, while some moments may be lost in time, others may be preserved through unsuspecting means for future generations to discover.
—Maria Morava, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unsuspecting
Ryan Schwartz, TVLine, 6 Sep. 2025
The YouTuber greets everyone — fan on the street, friend, foe, sitting Congressmen, and unsuspecting Rolling Stone staffer — the same, with a cheerful smile and an already rolling camera crew.
—Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 5 Sep. 2025
After taking the unsuspecting gang members by surprise, police and task force members then engaged in a firefight, said the police source.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 2 Sep. 2025
The viral video is a testament to the fact that, while some moments may be lost in time, others may be preserved through unsuspecting means for future generations to discover.
—Maria Morava, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unsuspecting
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unsuspecting
Adjective
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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
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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
Adjective
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Someone's mispronunciation, for example, might have more do with innocent ignorance as opposed to a mistake worth correcting.—
David Oliver,
USA Today,
13 Sep. 2025
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The new location will allow Wiggam Law to support clients outside of downtown Atlanta and directly in Gwinnett County, offering legal services including audit defense, tax litigation, penalty abatement, innocent spouse relief and IRS collections representation.—
Kelly Phillips Erb,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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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
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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
Adjective
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Their simple plan goes awry when one of their relatives wants a posh Korean wedding banquet in the heartfelt romantic comedy.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
13 Sep. 2025
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The inspiration The Copleys wanted a low-water garden that would be simple to care for.—
Caron Golden,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Because many tax professionals and taxpayers are unaware of the nuances of section 679, the provision often acts as a trap for the unwary.—
Matthew L. Roberts,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2025
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Rapid advances in artificial intelligence (AI) have given fraudsters a host of new tools to trick unwary individuals into dishonest schemes.—
Ranjita Iyer,
Forbes,
18 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unsuspecting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unsuspecting. Accessed 20 Sep. 2025.
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