NAIVETE Synonyms: 78 Similar and Opposite Words

naïveté

noun

nä-ˌēv-ˈtā

variants also naivete or naiveté

Definition of naïveté

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of naïveté Ignorance is off the table and so is naivete, which leaves only motive — and so motive is what gets attacked. — Sachin H. Jain, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026 Editor-in-chief Ned Sampson (Domhnall Gleeson) is a mix of blustery Michael Scott naivete and Jim Halpert everyman likability in his attempts to resurrect the struggling Toledo Truth Teller. — Sara Netzley, Entertainment Weekly, 2 July 2026 Emma D’Arcy imbues Rhaenyra’s every line with a breathless giddiness that conveys the character’s reckless naivete. — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 22 June 2026 These character endnotes, whether they’re read as youthful naiveté or an insulting interpretation of youthful naiveté, contribute to the finale’s bitter aftertaste. — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 1 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for naïveté

Recent Examples of Synonyms for naïveté

Noun

Campaign finance records show Pérez — who maintains his innocence — has contributed a total of $105,000 to Salazar’s joint fundraising and leadership political committees this year, plus an additional $7,000 to her candidate committee on May 5.

— Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 23 Oct. 2026
The accompanying clip attached to 50’s post found Don Roberts back home sitting down and thanking 50, along with his friends and family, for believing in his innocence.

— Michael Saponara, Billboard, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of innocence

Noun

Both films expose the massive gullibility and brazenness in every rung of American society.

— Maxwell Adler, Vanity Fair, 27 Oct. 2026
Beyond the mystery at the novel’s core, Candlish examines themes of #MeToo harassment, truth versus fiction in social media trends, boomerang kids, and the fine line between gullibility and trust.

— The Know, Denver Post, 4 Oct. 2026

Definition of gullibility

Noun

Satin finish, soft glow Much like the origins of the mochi skin concept, the mochi skin aesthetic is rooted in the Japanese approach to beauty, where simplicity and radiance take center stage.

— Jeanne Ballion, Vogue, 24 Oct. 2026
That process has been in place for over three decades, and Brazilians have become accustomed to its speed, simplicity, accuracy and routine.

— Solly Boussidan, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of simplicity

Noun

What’s worse is the scene that follows, revealing the clean-up of multiple bodies and an elaborate rewriting of the narrative that strains credulity to put it mildly, not to mention shortchanging the Mexican characters.

— David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 8 Oct. 2026
The earlier series has increasingly strained credulity by having its romance plots hinge on inequalities of gender and class, but seldom of race.

— Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of credulity

Noun

Now Carrie enters public school for the very first time, and with the reemergence of formidable telekinetic abilities, her blissful naivety of girlhood and her wide-open heart make her easy prey for physical and online bullies.

— Entertainment Weekly, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Sep. 2026
Nearly a decade after Hutchins’s death, Cole revisits nine formative years marked by naivety, discovery, confusion, and evolution.

— Tina Eves, SPIN, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of naivety

Browse Nearby Words

naiveness

naïveté

naivety

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Style

“Naïveté.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/na%C3%AFvet%C3%A9. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of naïveté

noun

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