naivete

noun

na·​ive·​te nä-ˌēv-ˈtā How to pronounce naivete (audio)
-ˌē-və-;
nä-ˈēv-ˌtā,
-ˈē-və-;
nī-
variants or naïveté or less commonly naiveté
1
: a naive remark or action
The farce is noted for its ridiculous acts and naïvetés.
2
: the quality or state of being naive
His account sometimes displays a gee-whiz naivetéGregory McNamee

Examples of naivete in a Sentence

her naïveté led her to leave her new car unlocked while she shopped at the mall though he was streetwise, the investigative reporter regularly assumed an air of naïveté when he was interviewing confidence men, charlatans, counterfeiters, and other assorted swindlers of the general public
Recent Examples on the Web Her phrasing is bell-like in its clarity; the melody has a halting naivete, like a nursery rhyme. Stephanie Zacharek, TIME, 19 Apr. 2024 And Patel, notably, did not bulk up to hulking superhero levels for the role; the actor cuts a lean figure, underlining Kid’s vulnerability and naivete. Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 5 Apr. 2024 Both heroes raise eyebrows in their new milieu for their naivete, their sartorial flair and their distaste for violence. Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Mar. 2024 Blunt sizzled in a red Louis Vuitton gown that her character, Emily Charlton, would commend, while Hathaway wore a cerulean blue Versace design, a nod to the iconic scene in which Miranda elegantly scolds Andy for her sartorial naivete. Michelle Lee, Peoplemag, 25 Mar. 2024 Many great books have been written about the subject (not to mention Christopher Nolan’s colossal film); in effect, he was punished for his opposition to the H-bomb, probably his arrogance and naivete as well. Kc Cole, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Mar. 2024 That an insecure platform would be used to discuss military operations in Ukraine betrays a sense of naivete by the Germans, Ledwidge said. Yuliya Talmazan, NBC News, 4 Mar. 2024 On the second anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine, the time for innocence or naivete in these matters is long past. Melik Kaylan, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2024 Whitney Houston Super Bowl XXV 1991 Days into the First Gulf War, Whitney Houston provided the nation a lasting glimpse of patriotic naivete. James Powel, USA TODAY, 4 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'naivete.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

French naïveté, from Old French, inborn character, from naif

First Known Use

1673, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of naivete was in 1673

Dictionary Entries Near naivete

Cite this Entry

“Naivete.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/naivete. Accessed 2 May. 2024.

Kids Definition

naïvete

noun
na·​ïve·​te
variants also naivete
(ˌ)nä-ˌēv(-ə)-ˈtā,
nä-ˈēv(-ə)-tā
1
: the quality or state of being naive
2
: a naive remark or action

More from Merriam-Webster on naivete

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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