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Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of naive are artless, ingenuous, natural, and unsophisticated. While all these words mean "free from pretension or calculation," naive suggests lack of worldly wisdom often connoting credulousness and unchecked innocence.

politically naive

When can artless be used instead of naive?

The meanings of artless and naive largely overlap; however, artless suggests a naturalness resulting from unawareness of the effect one is producing on others.

artless charm

When is it sensible to use ingenuous instead of naive?

Although the words ingenuous and naive have much in common, ingenuous implies inability to disguise or conceal one's feelings or intentions.

the ingenuous enthusiasm of children

When would natural be a good substitute for naive?

The synonyms natural and naive are sometimes interchangeable, but natural implies lacking artificiality and self-consciousness and having a spontaneousness suggesting the natural rather than the man-made world.

her unaffected, natural manner

In what contexts can unsophisticated take the place of naive?

While in some cases nearly identical to naive, unsophisticated implies a lack of experience and training necessary for social ease and adroitness.

unsophisticated adolescents

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 naive Modern takes on the tankini and boy short offer nostalgia without being too naive and are also seen from Candice Swaenpoel’s Topic of C line or Hunza G’s colorful styles. Emily Mercer, Footwear News, 27 June 2025 Yet such arguments are either geopolitically naive or disingenuous. Charles Kupchan, Foreign Affairs, 20 June 2025 Expecting the owners of AI technologies to suddenly become benevolent distributors of wealth without structural incentives seems, at best, naive. Gary Rivlin, Time, 4 June 2025 As our climate changes, however, complacent or naive assumptions about what regions are safe may be quite flawed. Marshall Shepherd, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for naive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for naive
Adjective
  • So far, the city's liability insurance carriers have agreed to pay nearly $27 million to settle four civil rights lawsuits alleging detectives — including some identified by multiple former officers as Wolverines — framed innocent people.
    Kristine Phillips, IndyStar, 4 July 2025
  • That includes sparklers, which may look more innocent but can get up to 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit.
    Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 4 July 2025
Adjective
  • Despite the lighthearted framing of the post, many comments conveyed genuine sadness or guilt—often about animals taken on without fully understanding the commitment involved.
    Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 July 2025
  • What matters is whether genuine compatibility exists beneath the obsession.
    Emma Specter, Vogue, 5 July 2025
Adjective
  • But gamblers are required to keep up with their losses themselves—and the IRS often asks them to back up those claims, something that’s not always easy.
    Chris Morris, Fortune, 7 July 2025
  • The easiest gauge is body composition every two weeks.
    Tor Constantino, Forbes.com, 7 July 2025
Adjective
  • Jamie Lee Curtis got honest about her cosmetic procedures in the hopes of dissuading women from making the same mistake.
    Maria Yagoda, People.com, 5 July 2025
  • The appraisal was not crude, but rather honest and profound.
    Megan Feringa, New York Times, 4 July 2025
Adjective
  • Nearby is the kitchen, which is compact and simple as standard.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 11 July 2025
  • These patterns are muted, simple, and still full of personality, like this pillow cover in indigo which looks exactly suited to a couch in a captain’s quarters, yacht-appropriate, or like a great porch nap pillow along a white rattan sofa.
    Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 11 July 2025
Adjective
  • Now, as the families prepare for next week's sentencing hearing on July 23, Patterson and Ward are hoping to give readers a true sense of the four victims.
    ABC News, ABC News, 14 July 2025
  • What's changing with Gemini on Android Currently, the official email and support pages aren't providing consistent information on Gemini's true behavior regarding this change and how to disable it.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 14 July 2025
Adjective
  • Those who get the fish placed on their backs are seen as gullible.
    Alexis Simmerman, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
  • Like an ’80s televangelist, Lindell is a pro at exploiting religion to bilk the gullible.
    Krista Kafer, Denver Post, 20 June 2025
Adjective
  • Sellers are unsophisticated and oftentimes are not natively digital, which adds to the challenge of discoverability for buyers Buyers and sellers take a long time to close deals thanks to lengthy clearing price negotiations, financing processes, transition planning, and more.
    Rocio Wu, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2025
  • Thus even relatively unsophisticated cybercriminals can access the latest tools to commit their crimes.
    Steve Weisman, Forbes.com, 15 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Naive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/naive. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.

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