wide-eyed

adjective

ˈwīd-ˈīd How to pronounce wide-eyed (audio)
Definition of wide-eyednext
1
as in naive
lacking in worldly wisdom or informed judgment a wide-eyed and trusting child

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in susceptible
readily taken advantage of the sort of phony UFO "artifacts" that wide-eyed tourists fall for

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 wide-eyed Matilda has inherited her mom's wide-eyed wonder. — Brendan Le, PEOPLE, 14 June 2026 Bateman shaped Clark from the page up, recasting a vain TV personality as a wide-eyed innocent who reads Floyd as a big brother. — Clayton Davis, Variety, 12 June 2026 The ethereal vocal loops of Indian singer Naisha recall early-’10s progressive house that was once made for hugging your wide-eyed friends under festival lights. — Kiana Mickles, Pitchfork, 12 June 2026 Hannah is perfect as a proxy for the harried viewer—sweet, two-dimensional, as wide-eyed as a Powerpuff Girl but much less feisty. — Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 10 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for wide-eyed
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wide-eyed
  1. naive
  2. susceptible
  3. innocent
  4. easy
  5. inexperienced
  6. simple
Adjective
  • The cyclical reality awaiting ‘naive capital’ Allianz is far from the only insurer to have prospered through recent upheavals.
    — Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 3 July 2026
  • But performing fealty to that naïve and impoverished picture of judging had become nearly de rigueur for both liberals and conservatives.
    — Jeannie Suk Gersen, New Yorker, 2 July 2026
Definition of naive
Adjective
  • Creamer of the Fresh Fruit Association said the state food and agriculture department’s lagging pest and disease prevention funding makes the state more susceptible to the kinds of incidents that happened recently.
    — Lizzie Kane July 9, Sacbee.com, 9 July 2026
  • Infections, other immune-system stressors and, more rarely, brain injuries may also contribute in genetically susceptible individuals.
    — Daryl Austin, USA Today, 8 July 2026
Definition of susceptible
Adjective
  • Again, another difficult night and a lot of dead people, innocent people, kids.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 8 July 2026
  • True, nothing so grand as a massive dragon and naval battle took place, but seeing Rhaenyra start to change into someone almost unrecognizable from her younger, more innocent self was compelling in a deeper way.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 6 July 2026
Definition of innocent
Adjective
  • For a Marlins team that has suddenly become difficult to pitch to, Hicks has been easy to overlook and hard to replace.
    — Tyler M. Carmona, Miami Herald, 8 July 2026
  • There are limits to this model, however Replicating this success at scale won’t be easy, said Paul Dergarabedian, head of marketplace trends for Rentrak.
    — Cerys Davies, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026
Definition of easy
Adjective
  • Hillmann said that the high percentage of inexperienced foreigners today makes the Pamplona bull runs particularly dangerous.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 6 July 2026
  • Leaders in at least three counties have publicly spoken out against Alfonso as being too inexperienced for the job and questioned Duffy’s influence.
    — Scott Bauer, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
Definition of inexperienced
Adjective
  • There are just a few simple ingredients brought together in minutes.
    — Linda Gassenheimer, Boston Herald, 8 July 2026
  • Even fixtures that feel more suited to a dining room or entryway can work beautifully when paired with simple vanity lighting.
    — Marisa Suzanne Martin, The Spruce, 8 July 2026
Definition of simple

Browse Nearby Words

wide-awake
wide-eyed
widely
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Cite this Entry

“Wide-eyed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wide-eyed. Accessed 11 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on wide-eyed

Nglish: Translation of wide-eyed for Spanish Speakers

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