Synonym Chooser

How is the word unsophisticated different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of unsophisticated are artless, ingenuous, naive, and natural. While all these words mean "free from pretension or calculation," unsophisticated implies a lack of experience and training necessary for social ease and adroitness.

unsophisticated adolescents

Where would artless be a reasonable alternative to unsophisticated?

While in some cases nearly identical to unsophisticated, artless suggests a naturalness resulting from unawareness of the effect one is producing on others.

artless charm

When would ingenuous be a good substitute for unsophisticated?

The meanings of ingenuous and unsophisticated largely overlap; however, ingenuous implies inability to disguise or conceal one's feelings or intentions.

the ingenuous enthusiasm of children

When is naive a more appropriate choice than unsophisticated?

The words naive and unsophisticated can be used in similar contexts, but naive suggests lack of worldly wisdom often connoting credulousness and unchecked innocence.

politically naive

When might natural be a better fit than unsophisticated?

While the synonyms natural and unsophisticated are close in meaning, natural implies lacking artificiality and self-consciousness and having a spontaneousness suggesting the natural rather than the man-made world.

her unaffected, natural manner

Examples of unsophisticated in a Sentence

These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Recent Examples on the Web But despite these successes, Moscow’s land-war doctrine is still unsophisticated. Andriy Zagorodnyuk, Foreign Affairs, 21 May 2024 The technology to make living materials is unsophisticated and cheap. Sara Molinari, The Conversation, 11 Oct. 2022 In a separate interview, Reiners expressed his doubts and concerns that unsophisticated consumers are vulnerable to crypto scams. Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 24 Apr. 2024 Although limited and unsophisticated, these systems contribute to drone-threat mitigation. IEEE Spectrum, 10 Apr. 2024 See all Example Sentences for unsophisticated 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unsophisticated
Adjective
  • Dimon went on to say that the United States needed to avoid being naive and allowing larger global events to play out without any intervention.
    Nina Turner, Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2024
  • In a bloody good mix of horror comedy and murder mystery, Sam Richardson plays a naive but good-hearted forest ranger new to a small Vermont town out to catch a killer (who may or may not be a werewolf) among the various kooky residents. 55.
    Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 25 Oct. 2024
Adjective
  • Both measures required a simple majority for passage.
    Luis Melecio-Zambrano, The Mercury News, 8 Nov. 2024
  • Here are simple ways to combat the fear in the meantime.
    Essence, Essence, 5 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • Investigators believe the two men who were injured were innocent bystanders, police said.
    Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 3 Nov. 2024
  • The message was clear: Even if your group is defined by targeting innocent people, the Biden-Harris White House will bestow the same legitimacy upon you as any nation-state by granting you a seat at the negotiating table.
    Pat Fallon, National Review, 3 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • Houde said these mammoth animals are a primitive group of proboscideans ('elephantoids') from which modern elephants evolved.
    Joseph J. Kolb, Fox News, 18 July 2017
  • Many are primitive and remote, and don’t have restrooms or water.
    OregonLive.com, OregonLive.com, 12 July 2017
Adjective
  • Some growers also pinch plants back in September to create an even crown and remove immature stem segments.
    Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 26 Oct. 2024
  • Harris 2024 Polls: Harris Leads By 1 Point In Two Latest Surveys Unfortunately, these metrics do not work well for an immature, emerging business.
    Andrew Binns, Forbes, 21 Oct. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near unsophisticated

Cite this Entry

“Unsophisticated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unsophisticated. Accessed 20 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on unsophisticated

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