variants also naivete or naiveté
1
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

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 naïveté 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 So Americans who don't travel, who 80 percent don't have a passport, who are uneducated, are in their extraordinary naivete. Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 28 Nov. 2024 The naivete is challenging to understand when attackers use virtually every standard tool—from hardware and software to cloud resources—to conduct their operations. Denis Mandich, Forbes, 21 Oct. 2024 Anderson plays Shelley with a consummate sweetness that sometimes registers as naivete. Esther Zuckerman, TIME, 7 Sep. 2024 That is sort of where the disappointment comes from … my naivete. Todd Gilchrist, Variety, 17 Sep. 2024 But for whatever naivete the interaction implies, Sweetpea is no ingénue. Chloe Schama, Vogue, 13 Sep. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for naïveté
Noun
  • Teni, just 2 years old at the time, was forced to witness the appalling scene unfold through a lens of innocence.
    Kyle Eustice, SPIN, 24 Jan. 2025
  • Attorneys for Michael Madigan opened their final bid to persuade jurors of his innocence by hearkening back to a memorable nickname for the former speaker: the Sphinx.
    Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 24 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • The simplicity of the dish hits the target on the bullseye.
    Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Jan. 2025
  • The list includes books that emphasize simplicity, adaptability, and skill-building (and have a similar vibe to Nosrat’s book).
    Wilder Davies, Bon Appétit, 17 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Cotter spent significant time Tuesday attacking the credibility of Fidel Marquez, a former ComEd executive who cut a deal with prosecutors in order to avoid serious prison time.
    Ray Long, Chicago Tribune, 28 Jan. 2025
  • Some opposition politicians questioned the credibility of the plan.
    Amanda Castro, Newsweek, 27 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Darrow asked Bryan about the age of the Earth, about biblical miracles, such as when Joshua commanded the sun to stand still, and many more questions that revealed not only Bryan’s ignorance of science but his ignorance of the Bible as well.
    Avery Hurt, Discover Magazine, 14 Jan. 2025
  • Throughout Good Girl, Nila capitalizes on the ignorance of the white Germans around her to pass as anything but Afghan.
    Jasmine Vojdani, Vulture, 13 Jan. 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
  • Sometimes, these declarations are the product of naivety; other times, it’s done for clicks.
    Henry McIntosh, Forbes, 15 Jan. 2025
  • Its designers' naivety shines through clearly, and its rough edges serve as clear reminders of why today's strict formalism has taken root, especially in AAA games where too-big budgets and payrolls leave no room at all for risk.
    Ars Technica, Ars Technica, 27 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • Yet the apparent optimism was a thin veneer over deep uncertainty.
    Jeanna Smialek, New York Times, 21 Jan. 2025
  • In a post on X, Rutte expressed optimism about strengthening NATO's capabilities, emphasizing that the alliance will work together to achieve peace through strength.
    Hannah Parry, Newsweek, 21 Jan. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near naïveté

Cite this Entry

“Naïveté.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/na%C3%AFvet%C3%A9. Accessed 1 Feb. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!