NAIVE: Synonyms and Related Words. What is Another Word for NAIVE?

Need another word that means the same as “naive”? Find 24 synonyms and 30 related words for “naive” in this overview.

The synonyms of “Naive” are: naif, unenlightened, uninstructed, primitive, uninitiate, uninitiated, innocent, unsophisticated, artless, ingenuous, inexperienced, guileless, unworldly, childlike, trusting, trustful, dewy-eyed, starry-eyed, wide-eyed, fond, simple, natural, unaffected, unpretentious

Naive as an Adjective

Definitions of "Naive" as an adjective

According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, “naive” as an adjective can have the following definitions:

  • Of or created by one without formal training; simple or naive in style.
  • Of or denoting art produced in a style which deliberately rejects sophisticated artistic techniques and has a bold directness resembling a child's work, typically in bright colours with little or no perspective.
  • Inexperienced.
  • Not initiated; deficient in relevant experience.
  • Marked by or showing unaffected simplicity and lack of guile or worldly experience.
  • (of a person) natural and unaffected; innocent.
  • Lacking information or instruction.
  • (of a person or action) showing a lack of experience, wisdom, or judgement.

Synonyms of "Naive" as an adjective (24 Words)

artlessWithout guile or deception.
Artless sincerity.
childlikeExhibiting childlike simplicity and credulity.
Childlike trust.
dewy-eyedExhibiting childlike simplicity and credulity.
fond(of a hope or belief) foolishly optimistic; naive.
Hopelessly spoiled by a fond mother.
guilelessDevoid of guile; innocent and without deception.
His face once so open and guileless.
inexperiencedHaving little knowledge or experience of a particular thing.
He is still relatively young and inexperienced.
ingenuousLacking in sophistication or worldliness.
His ingenuous explanation that he would not have burned the church if he had not thought the bishop was in it.
innocent(used of things) lacking sense or awareness.
Fine innocent weather.
naifMarked by or showing unaffected simplicity and lack of guile or worldly experience.
naturalRelating to earthly human or physical nature as distinct from the spiritual or supernatural realm.
B natural.
primitiveUsed of preliterate or tribal or nonindustrial societies.
Primitive societies.
simpleEasy and not involved or complicated.
Simple mechanisms.
starry-eyedUnrealistically or naively optimistic.
trustfulInclined to believe or confide readily; full of trust.
A trustful acceptance of authority.
trustingInclined to believe or confide readily; full of trust.
It is foolish to be too trusting of other people.
unaffectedEmotionally unmoved.
Fibers remained apparently unaffected by the treatment.
unenlightenedNot having or showing an enlightened outlook.
Unenlightened thinking.
uninitiateNot initiated; deficient in relevant experience.
It seemed a bizarre ceremony to uninitiated western eyes.
uninitiatedNot initiated; deficient in relevant experience.
The discussion wasn t easy to follow for the uninitiated.
uninstructed(of behaviour) not acquired by teaching; natural or spontaneous.
Students are uninstructed in the use of books.
unpretentiousExhibiting restrained good taste.
In spite of his fame he was thoroughly unpretentious.
unsophisticatedLacking complexity.
Either too unsophisticated or too honest to promise more than he could deliver.
unworldlyNot wise in the ways of the world.
This helplessly unworldly woman.
wide-eyedFully open or extended.

Usage Examples of "Naive" as an adjective

  • Andy had a sweet, naive look when he smiled.
  • I was politically naive.
  • This naive simple creature with wide friendly eyes so eager to believe appearances.
  • A teenager's naive ignorance of life.
  • He took part in the experiment as a naive subject.
  • The naive assumption that things can only get better.
  • The rather naive young man had been totally misled.

Associations of "Naive" (30 Words)

artlessShowing lack of art.
An artless literary masterpiece.
bumpkinAn unsophisticated or socially awkward person from the countryside.
She thought Tom a bit of a country bumpkin.
candidOpenly straightforward and direct without reserve or secretiveness.
A candid interview.
childishOf, like, or appropriate to a child.
Childish tantrums.
childlikeExhibiting childlike simplicity and credulity.
She speaks with a childlike directness.
clarityThe quality of clear water.
The crystal clarity of water.
credulousHaving or showing too great a readiness to believe things.
A ceremony staged for credulous tourists.
downrightThoroughgoing.
It s a downright disgrace.
frankA smooth-textured sausage of minced beef or pork usually smoked; often served on a bread roll.
Kate looked at Sam with frank admiration.
girlA person s girlfriend.
Mrs Smith was just one of the girls.
guilelessFree of deceit.
His face once so open and guileless.
gullibleEasily tricked because of being too trusting.
An attempt to persuade a gullible public to spend their money.
hoaxSubject to a playful hoax or joke.
A hoax 999 call.
honestWorthy of being depended on.
An honest wage.
honestyReferring to or using a way of charging for goods or services that relies on the customers to leave money in an unattended receptacle even though there is no one to collect their payments.
There s a well stocked honesty bar which includes local wine.
immatureNot yet having developed feathers.
Many of the fish caught are immature.
impressionableEasily influenced.
An impressionable age.
inexperiencedLacking practical experience or training.
An inexperienced driver.
infantileOf or occurring among babies or very young children.
Infantile behavior.
ingenueAn actress who specializes in playing the role of an artless innocent young girl.
ingenuous(of a person or action) innocent and unsuspecting.
She s staggeringly ingenuous or possibly very cunning indeed.
innocenceThe state of being unsullied by sin or moral wrong; lacking a knowledge of evil.
The healthy bloom in her cheeks gave her an aura of innocence.
naiveteInnocence or unsophistication.
His greatest fault was his political naïvet.
out-and-outBeing out or having grown cold.
simpleOf very low intelligence.
A simple white blouse.
sincereFree from pretence or deceit; proceeding from genuine feelings.
An entirely sincere and cruel tyrant.
suggestibleSusceptible or responsive to suggestion.
A suggestible client would comply.
trustingShowing or tending to have a belief in a person’s honesty or sincerity; not suspicious.
A shy and trusting child.
unsophisticatedNot wise in the ways of the world.
An unsophisticated machine.
yokelAn uneducated and unsophisticated person from the countryside.

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