naivete
noun
na·ive·te nä-ˌēv-ˈtā 
-ˌē-və-;
nä-ˈēv-ˌtā,
-ˈē-və-;
nī-
variants or naïveté or less commonly naiveté
1
: a naive remark or action
The farce is noted for its ridiculous acts and naïvetés.
2
: the quality or state of being naive
His account sometimes displays a gee-whiz naiveté …
Gregory McNamee
Gregory McNamee
Synonyms
- artlessness
- greenness
- guilelessness
- ingenuousness
- innocence
- naiveness
- naivety [chiefly British]
- naïvety
- naturalness
- simplemindedness
- simpleness
- simplicity
- unsophistication
- unworldliness
- viridity
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
her naïveté led her to leave her new car unlocked while she shopped at the mall 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
Recent Examples on the Web Marin's lack of good judgment and naivete has led us to this ridiculous contretemps, which will eventually blow over. Marja Heinonen, CNN, 23 Aug. 2022 As Honeyman, Burrows balances suave assurance with earnest Midwestern naivete. Terry Byrne, BostonGlobe.com, 3 Aug. 2022 Supply chain bottlenecks plus manufacturing naivete led to production delays. Jon Markman, Forbes, 27 June 2022 Because there’s danger and sweetness in their naivete. Jake Kroeger, Los Angeles Times, 4 Aug. 2022 The irony depends upon keeping Bran in a state of aesthetic and emotional naivete. Brandon Taylor, The Atlantic, 1 July 2022 But Sullivan also stumbled early, with both he and his campaign displaying a naivete about politics and government. Jeremy Gorner, Chicago Tribune, 28 June 2022 Carmen Maria Machado: This is a novel about many things, including adolescent naivete and coming of age. Adrienne Gaffney, ELLE, 15 July 2022 The saying is underscored by naivete, Pálsson said. Maggie Downs, Washington Post, 7 July 2022 See More
Marja Heinonen, CNN, 23 Aug. 2022 As Honeyman, Burrows balances suave assurance with earnest Midwestern naivete. Terry Byrne, BostonGlobe.com, 3 Aug. 2022 Supply chain bottlenecks plus manufacturing naivete led to production delays. Jon Markman, Forbes, 27 June 2022 Because there’s danger and sweetness in their naivete. Jake Kroeger, Los Angeles Times, 4 Aug. 2022 The irony depends upon keeping Bran in a state of aesthetic and emotional naivete. Brandon Taylor, The Atlantic, 1 July 2022 But Sullivan also stumbled early, with both he and his campaign displaying a naivete about politics and government. Jeremy Gorner, Chicago Tribune, 28 June 2022 Carmen Maria Machado: This is a novel about many things, including adolescent naivete and coming of age. Adrienne Gaffney, ELLE, 15 July 2022 The saying is underscored by naivete, Pálsson said. Maggie Downs, Washington Post, 7 July 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
French naïveté, from Old French, inborn character, from naif
First Known Use
1673, in the meaning defined at sense 1
naïveté
noun
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
Relevance
- innocence
- simplicity
- naivety
- ignorance
- ingenuousness
- naïvety
- guilelessness
- naiveness
- optimism
- artlessness
- simplemindedness
- naturalness
- unworldliness
- honesty
- unsophistication
- sincerity
- greenness
- frankness
- simpleness
- inexperience
- idealism
- viridity
- candor
- unpretentiousness
- straightforwardness
- childishness
- openness
- carelessness
- callowness
- insularity
- gullibility
- unawareness
- genuineness
- thoughtlessness
- parochialism
- rawness
- obliviousness
- heedlessness
- credulousness
- credulity
- unaffectedness
- provincialism
- impressionability
- impracticality
- coltishness
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- cynicism
- sophistication
- worldliness
- dishonesty
- artificiality
- insincerity
- artfulness
- incredulity
- pretentiousness
- disbelief
- deviousness
- knowingness
- skepticism
- pessimism
- suspiciousness
- wariness
- maturity
- caution
- carefulness
- affectedness
- street smarts
- doubtfulness
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
- gullibility
- credulity
- credibility
- simplicity
- naiveness
- credulousness
- artlessness
- simpleness
- unworldliness
- unsophistication
- belief
- trust
- unwariness
- faith
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- incredulity
- skepticism
- sophistication
- worldliness
- distrust
- mistrust
- wariness
- suspicion
- uncertainty
- suspiciousness
- doubt
- misdoubt