wide-eyed

adjective

ˈwīd-ˈīd How to pronounce wide-eyed (audio)
Synonyms of wide-eyednext
1
: having or marked by unsophisticated or uncritical acceptance or admiration : naive
wide-eyed innocence
2
: having the eyes wide open especially with wonder or astonishment

Synonyms of wide-eyed

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Examples of wide-eyed in a Sentence

a wide-eyed and trusting child the sort of phony UFO "artifacts" that wide-eyed tourists fall for
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Matilda has inherited her mom's wide-eyed wonder. — Brendan Le, PEOPLE, 14 June 2026 All the more reason for this eternally wide-eyed extra-terrestrial empath to take it. — Andy Andersen, Vulture, 19 June 2026 Hannah is perfect as a proxy for the harried viewer—sweet, two-dimensional, as wide-eyed as a Powerpuff Girl but much less feisty. — Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 10 June 2026 Bateman shaped Clark from the page up, recasting a vain TV personality as a wide-eyed innocent who reads Floyd as a big brother. — Clayton Davis, Variety, 12 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for wide-eyed

Word History

First Known Use

1789, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of wide-eyed was in 1789

Rhymes for wide-eyed

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Browse Nearby Words

wide boy
wide-eyed
wide-flung
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Cite this Entry

“Wide-eyed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wide-eyed. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

wide-eyed

adjective
ˈwīd-ˈīd
1
: having the eyes wide open especially with wonder or astonishment
2
: naive sense 2

More from Merriam-Webster on wide-eyed

Nglish: Translation of wide-eyed for Spanish Speakers

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