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

Examples 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
  • According to one lawyer, his client proved his innocence with a lie detector test.
    Michael Gfoeller And David H. Rundell, Newsweek, 16 Jan. 2025
  • The film captures the innocence and magic of childhood, brought to life through collaboration with Salaam Baalak Trust and the insights of NGOs such as the Kailash Satyarthi Children’s Foundation and Save the Children.
    Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 14 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Secondly, the industry has perpetuated a culture that values simplicity and tradition over modernization.
    Hilary Tetenbaum, USA TODAY, 7 Jan. 2025
  • Minimalist cocktails will remain popular, focusing on simplicity while delivering complex flavors.
    Amber Love Bond, Forbes, 6 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • However, the hypothetical scenario of an invasion would galvanize Greenland's population and its international allies into a unified front, risking a swift and diplomatically disastrous conflict that would undermine U.S. credibility.
    Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 17 Jan. 2025
  • But Hamas’ main rival, the Palestinian Authority, has little credibility among Gaza’s residents.
    Asher Kaufman, The Conversation, 16 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • This Better-Than List calls out those films and filmmakers who triumphed, defeating those who subjugated moviegoers to fear, bias, and ignorance.
    Armond White, National Review, 8 Jan. 2025
  • Specialty nurseries devoted to breeding, growing and selling rare and unusual plants are slowly disappearing in Southern California, due to high real estate costs and waning interest (or ignorance) from gardeners and landscape designers.
    Jeanette Marantos, Los Angeles Times, 1 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • 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
  • Confounding elements proliferate the picture, mostly dealing with character behaviors and situations that either strain credulity (like the Santa photo-op still running past the bar’s closing time) or lead to more questions than answers.
    Courtney Howard, Variety, 19 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • 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
  • There is a poignant naivety to that, even if his devotional dance soon segues into a fight — all the more dazzling, of course, for being fought and won by a man in a skirt.
    Stephanie Bunbury, Deadline, 8 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • Flipping your perspective instead of your lid prevents negativity from diminishing your optimism.
    Bryan Robinson, Forbes, 9 Jan. 2025
  • There is far more optimism this time around, thanks in large part to Daniels — nearly a lock to be AP Offensive Rookie of the year — and coach Dan Quinn.
    Stephen Whyno, Orlando Sentinel, 9 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 21 Jan. 2025.

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