variants
also naivete
or naiveté
1
as in innocence
the quality or state of being simple and sincere
her naïveté led her to leave her new car unlocked while she shopped at the mall
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in gullibility
readiness to believe the claims of others without sufficient evidence
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of naïveté
On the contrary, the narrative voice mixes naivete and disbelief.
—
Bartolomeo Sala, The Dial, 27 Mar. 2025
One character starts with hope and naivete, and the other with the wisdom that comes from tough, life-altering experiences.
—Nick Jonas, USA TODAY, 20 Mar. 2025
The fund’s appreciation of over 600% YTD raises concerns about flawed perceptions of SpaceX ownership and naivete regarding the premium to NAV.
—Joel Shulman, Forbes, 25 Dec. 2024
In turn, the film presents the trio as the three versions of womanhood: Pinky’s youth and naivete, Millie’s seductive ambition, and Willie’s maternal homemaker warmth.
—Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 3 Mar. 2025
There’s a lot of naivete, certainly, in certain forms of popular music.
—Katherine Turman, SPIN, 3 Feb. 2025
Tascioni is an exuberant person by nature, which many antagonists mistake for naivete.
—Rachel Elspeth Gross, Forbes, 8 Jan. 2025
Biden’s naivete on the matter can perhaps be excused, but not Trump’s.
—John Tamny, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024
Perhaps the spectacle of naivete is all part of the Altman image.
—Allison Morrow, CNN, 5 Dec. 2024
Bartolomeo Sala, The Dial, 27 Mar. 2025
One character starts with hope and naivete, and the other with the wisdom that comes from tough, life-altering experiences.
—Nick Jonas, USA TODAY, 20 Mar. 2025
The fund’s appreciation of over 600% YTD raises concerns about flawed perceptions of SpaceX ownership and naivete regarding the premium to NAV.
—Joel Shulman, Forbes, 25 Dec. 2024
In turn, the film presents the trio as the three versions of womanhood: Pinky’s youth and naivete, Millie’s seductive ambition, and Willie’s maternal homemaker warmth.
—Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 3 Mar. 2025
There’s a lot of naivete, certainly, in certain forms of popular music.
—Katherine Turman, SPIN, 3 Feb. 2025
Tascioni is an exuberant person by nature, which many antagonists mistake for naivete.
—Rachel Elspeth Gross, Forbes, 8 Jan. 2025
Biden’s naivete on the matter can perhaps be excused, but not Trump’s.
—John Tamny, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024
Perhaps the spectacle of naivete is all part of the Altman image.
—Allison Morrow, CNN, 5 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for naïveté
Noun
-
In November, Barrientos-Quintana — who always maintained his innocence and was never linked to the crime by any physical evidence — walked out of prison.—
Jessica Lussenhop,
ProPublica,
29 Mar. 2025
-
Littlejohn maintained his innocence, though, claiming that his co-conspirator Glenn Bethany pulled the trigger.—
Brenna Ehrlich,
Rolling Stone,
29 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
But the simplicity of the sequence of events — Smith’s shot perfectly careening off the side of the rim and Şengün’s subsequent positioning for the putback — was indicative of Houston’s rebounding prowess.—
Kelly Iko,
The Athletic,
18 Mar. 2025
-
But over time, in some cities, New York among them, the totemic simplicity of a man eating a steak fell out of fashion, replaced by more heterogeneous modes of conspicuous connoisseurship: nouvelle cuisine, the auteur-chef tasting menu, the thousand-dollar omakase, the members-only supper club.—
Helen Rosner,
The New Yorker,
16 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Hence, all discussion of hypothetical U.S. statehood for Greenland in effect provides credibility to a fake reality meant to intimidate Greenlanders into submission.—
Ron Estes,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Mar. 2025
-
Purposeful leaders commit to mastering their craft — understanding that credibility is built through expertise and humility.—
Brent Gleeson,
Forbes.com,
28 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
The filmmakers make easy work of granting them the agency to see their stories through, bucking a backdrop of ignorance to stand up to forces attempting to quiet the voices of impending revolution.—
Holly Jones,
Variety,
21 Mar. 2025
-
Her courageous work in eastern Ukraine stands in direct contrast to Trump and Putin, who heap praise on each other and ignore the devastation to Ukraine, an ignorance that not even death and injury to women and children can penetrate.—
Bob Kustra,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
As the second season wears on, this notion warps the plot in ways that strain credulity, and the series’ innumerable cliffhangers gum up the narrative with artificial tension.—
Daniel A. Gross,
The New Yorker,
17 Jan. 2025
-
In his absence — and the long-term absences, at various times, of Barnes, Quickley, Barrett, Poeltl, Kelly Olynyk and others — the Raptors have had to throw out some lineups that strain credulity as legitimate NBA lineups.—
Eric Koreen,
The Athletic,
29 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
Cruelty and condescension also figure frequently in the director’s work, bringing an acrid aftertaste to this reflection on the insularity of wealth and class, and the naivety of showing disdain for privilege to well-heeled prospective in-laws.—
David Rooney,
The Hollywood Reporter,
3 Sep. 2019
-
Chicago victims of credit card scam warn others to be on guard: ‘I was just blinded by my naivety’ Chicago victims of credit card scam warn others to be on guard: 'I was just blinded by my naivety' Editorial: Donald Trump uses Democrats as stooges at address to Congress.—
Molly Morrow,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Still, there's reason for optimism: the Spurs acquired De'Aaron Fox from the Kings and look poised to be a serious threat next season.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
22 Mar. 2025
-
There’s some optimism that a deal will be struck with Dish.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
21 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Naïveté.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/na%C3%AFvet%C3%A9. Accessed 2 Apr. 2025.
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