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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
  • But the alternative is much worse: a world where the loss of innocent life is treated as inescapable, where no calamity can be prevented or bad situation reformed.
    Olga Khazan, The Atlantic, 14 July 2025
  • Comprehensive cell phone analysis can be just as powerful in clearing innocent drivers by proving no user interaction occurred.
    Lars Daniel, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
Adjective
  • Plaintiff Phone Discovery: Critical Strategic Elements Successful phone discovery requires understanding several strategic elements that can significantly improve outcomes: The Education Component: Many resistance issues stem from genuine misunderstanding about what cell phone forensics involves.
    Lars Daniel, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025
  • There’s real reason for caution here, starting with the idea that interactions with A.I. can be treated as genuine relationships.
    Paul Bloom, New Yorker, 14 July 2025
Adjective
  • Designing two spaces to enjoy for years would have been much easier if the Ezra collection had existed from the Better Homes & Gardens line at Walmart.
    Carly Totten, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 July 2025
  • Both filters last 18 months, so the higher replacement costs are a little easier to swallow.
    Cheryl Fenton, Parents, 19 July 2025
Adjective
  • Be honest about systems that are no longer serving their purpose.
    Forbes.com, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025
  • Renegade Paws Rescue's honest assessment of Igor's personality garnered the attention of thousands of animal lovers, who shared the post over 35,000 times.
    Moná Thomas, People.com, 14 July 2025
Adjective
  • Chris wore a simple navy blue polo shirt and khaki shorts combo, while Alexa showed off her growing bump in a white and blue floral dress — along with an Olympic logo necklace to complete her maternity style.
    Kayla Grant, People.com, 11 July 2025
  • While in many ways, this flat 33km time-trial is simple, particularly in its middle section, there is still plenty to watch out for.
    Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 11 July 2025
Adjective
  • Judkins’ ex, according to the report, told him the messages weren’t true, then Judkins punched her in the mouth.
    Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 14 July 2025
  • With things that were true but couldn’t be readily seen or felt, like silence.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 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
  • 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
  • But the grammar movies and television use to dramatize such crimes remains by and large unsophisticated.
    Andy Crump, Time, 26 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Naive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/naive. Accessed 22 Jul. 2025.

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