variants
or naif
as in naive
lacking in worldly wisdom or informed judgment
the senator, newly elected and still naïf, will learn soon enough how Washington really works
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
variants
or naif
as in virgin
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of naïf
Meghan Cox Gurdon, WSJ, 21 Nov. 2023
Colorful naif pictures by Katie Hickey and text arranged in substantial chunks make this perfect for browsing by young readers with an interest in engineering or architecture.
—Meghan Cox Gurdon, WSJ, 12 Aug. 2022
Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 12 Dec. 2024
Farrow, presenting in the early scenes as an utter naif, discovers the pleasures of running cons; LuPone, who shows up a hellion, develops a sensitivity and nurturing spirit to the lost soul who’s provided her character a home.
—Daniel D'addario, Variety, 13 Sep. 2024
Obama is neither an out-of-his-depth naif nor a reactive realist.
—Martin Indyk, Foreign Affairs, 20 Apr. 2012
Angourie Rice plays our ostensible heroine Cady Heron as more of an earnest naif.
—Katie Walsh, Twin Cities, 11 Jan. 2024
Reasonable readers will arrive at varied opinions about the taste of all this—the facts are the facts, and the narrative pulses with empathy, but the tone at times resembles cosmic horror, as if Ehrenfest were a Lovecraftian naif driven mad after glimpsing an Elder God.
—Amy Brady, Scientific American, 1 Oct. 2023
Sonny, the political naif, suddenly has mastered the procedures of the Texas House and turns them to his advantage.
—Shawna Seed, Dallas News, 12 Sep. 2023
Who says Merrick Garland is a political naif?
—The Editorial Board, WSJ, 11 Aug. 2022
With long hair and stubble, Fletcher is grungy and sweet, a seemingly free-spirited naif who also is, when the movie requires it, a font of Lone Star wisdom.
—Jim Kiest, San Antonio Express-News, 8 July 2021
Adjective
Most illustrators play up the coziness of the tale, what with children all snug in their beds dreaming of sugarplums and suchlike, but the friendly lines and marzipan colors of Ms. Beech’s naif illustrations take coziness to a new level.
—Meghan Cox Gurdon, WSJ, 21 Nov. 2023
Colorful naif pictures by Katie Hickey and text arranged in substantial chunks make this perfect for browsing by young readers with an interest in engineering or architecture.
—Meghan Cox Gurdon, WSJ, 12 Aug. 2022
Noun
Rogan, wearing his persona as a babe-in-the-woods naif, listened to this nonsense in slack-jawed stupefaction.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 12 Dec. 2024
Farrow, presenting in the early scenes as an utter naif, discovers the pleasures of running cons; LuPone, who shows up a hellion, develops a sensitivity and nurturing spirit to the lost soul who’s provided her character a home.
—Daniel D'addario, Variety, 13 Sep. 2024
Obama is neither an out-of-his-depth naif nor a reactive realist.
—Martin Indyk, Foreign Affairs, 20 Apr. 2012
Angourie Rice plays our ostensible heroine Cady Heron as more of an earnest naif.
—Katie Walsh, Twin Cities, 11 Jan. 2024
Reasonable readers will arrive at varied opinions about the taste of all this—the facts are the facts, and the narrative pulses with empathy, but the tone at times resembles cosmic horror, as if Ehrenfest were a Lovecraftian naif driven mad after glimpsing an Elder God.
—Amy Brady, Scientific American, 1 Oct. 2023
Sonny, the political naif, suddenly has mastered the procedures of the Texas House and turns them to his advantage.
—Shawna Seed, Dallas News, 12 Sep. 2023
Who says Merrick Garland is a political naif?
—The Editorial Board, WSJ, 11 Aug. 2022
With long hair and stubble, Fletcher is grungy and sweet, a seemingly free-spirited naif who also is, when the movie requires it, a font of Lone Star wisdom.
—Jim Kiest, San Antonio Express-News, 8 July 2021
Recent Examples of Synonyms for naïf
Adjective
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Mercifully, Newcastle came up against a Leicester side whose setup under Ruud van Nistelrooy was as naive as their defensive performance was pitiful.Chris Waugh, The Athletic, 16 Dec. 2024
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Season 1 introduced Amina (Anjana Vasan), a naive but musically gifted nerd who joins the band Lady Parts to get closer to one member’s hunky brother.Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 12 Dec. 2024
Noun
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In Immaculate, Sydney Sweeney stars as Sister Cecilia, who becomes a holy figure to her fellow nuns when she’s found to be pregnant despite being a virgin.Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 19 Dec. 2024
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When a novel virus infects your body, your immune system can behave like a virgin on a first date.Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes, 2 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Think: lamb chops drizzled with green miso, buttery hamachi slices accompanied by tangy ponzu, and puffy lobster donuts.Katie Chang, Forbes, 27 Dec. 2024
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Somehow, the two never ran out of coordinating looks—Ariana Grande in shades of pink, white, and yellow, and Cynthia Erivo in black and green.Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 27 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Not just for Price but for the innocents who perished during the conflicts, some by her actions.Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 22 Nov. 2024
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Palestinians, Ukrainians, and countless others suffer in places where death stalks innocents.Gwen Faulkenberry, arkansasonline.com, 28 Nov. 2024
Noun
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There isn't much that grows in the barren ground here, but Taleb points out fledgling mint, garlic and potato plants.Jane Arraf, NPR, 24 Dec. 2024
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Moving to a new location could help fledgling families stretch their dollar further.Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 23 Dec. 2024
Noun
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The author came to Canada from England in 1923 as a 23-year-old greenhorn.Anton Money, Outdoor Life, 15 Aug. 2024
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Hence the herring, every greenhorn’s rite of passage on the Wizard.Ashley Boucher, EW.com, 11 June 2024
Noun
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Later home felt everywhere, radiant waters, thistles, greenest hilltops dotted with sheep, masses of tulips and geese, wandering William’s intricate paths, pausing at every turn, life stretching ahead, mountains of bliss and searing sorrow for years to come.Jennifer Harlan, New York Times, 13 Dec. 2024
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The sustainable brand makes latex for its mattresses in California using materials from its own farms, cares for thousands of sheep, and is working toward achieving a zero-waste output in its factory.Paris Wilson, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Dec. 2024
Noun
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In other news: Horse racing: After a three-year suspension, Bob Baffert was victorious in his return to Churchill Downs on Wednesday with his colt, Barnes.Stephanie Stremplewski, The Courier-Journal, 1 Dec. 2024
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The beautiful horses are the main attraction at the Breeders’ Cup, from the Future Stars Friday as juveniles, to the fantastic fillies, magnificent mares and classic colts that produce a lifetime of enjoyment for their connections and fans.Jay Ginsbach, Forbes, 3 Nov. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near naïf
Cite this Entry
“Naïf.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/na%C3%AFf. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.
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