wide-eyed

adjective

ˈwīd-ˈīd 

1

: having or marked by unsophisticated or uncritical acceptance or admiration : naive

wide-eyed innocence

2

: having the eyes wide open especially with wonder or astonishment

Synonyms

• aw-shucks
• dewy
• dewy-eyed
• green
• ingenuous
• innocent
• naïf
• naif
• naive
• naïve
• primitive
• simple
• simpleminded
• uncritical
• unknowing
• unsophisticated
• unsuspecting
• unsuspicious
• unwary
• unworldly

Examples of wide-eyed in a Sentence

a wide-eyed and trusting child

the sort of phony UFO "artifacts" that wide-eyed tourists fall for

Recent Examples on the Web

Its jokes are profound, its wisdom ridiculous, its irreverence wide-eyed and irresistible. —Pitchfork, 3 Dec. 2024

The cast nails their roles, but the true scene-stealer is Jeronicus’ finest achievement: the little robot Buddy 3000, a wide-eyed cutie who can walk, talk, fly, and get into trouble. —EW.com, 30 Nov. 2024

Stiller shoots him a very Ben Stiller look, wide-eyed. —Marco Della Cava, USA TODAY, 29 Nov. 2024

Miraculously, this revival exudes freshness, from Grey Henson’s spirited performance as a wide-eyed Buddy to Liam Steel’s playful choreography, which turns tinsel into jump ropes. —The New Yorker, 29 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1789, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

wide-eyed

adjective

ˈwīd-ˈīd

1

: having the eyes wide open especially with wonder or astonishment

2

: naive sense 2