naiveté

or na·ïve·té, na·ive·te

[ nah-eev-tey, -ee-vuh-tey, -eev-tey, -ee-vuh- ]

noun

1. the quality or state of being naive; natural or artless simplicity.
2. a naive action, remark, etc.

Word History and Origins

Origin of naiveté¹

First recorded in 1665–75; from French; naive, -ity ( def )

Example Sentences

In naiveté, some of these trees had grown with their lower limbs spread out, creating “ladder fuels,” which make it possible for the wildfire to climb up them.

From Popular-Science

Whereas positivity tends to be associated with naiveté or cheerleading.

From Freakonomics

I saw a lot of good people argue for hateful interpretations of the Bible at Biola out of naiveté.

From The Daily Beast

So while people may think they’re being both economical and plausibly classy by quaffing the second-cheapest Chardonnay, they’re actually getting stiffed for their naiveté, which is doubly embarrassing.

From Quartz

It’s easy to think about ancient civilizations and chalk up their failures to naiveté.

From Time

Charges of naivete, cluelessness, and “nonsense demagoguery” were hurled back and forth.

From The Daily Beast

Our naivete would soon force me to make a decision that would tip the balance of the campaign.

From The Daily Beast

In our naivete, we sometimes go rushing in where angels fear to tread.

From The Daily Beast

The program began to teeter under the weight of its own outsized expectations, questionable staffing decisions, and naivete.

From The Daily Beast

At times the optimism bordered on naivete, suggesting possible conflicts down the road.

From The Daily Beast

He responded at once by presenting himself at her home with all his disarming naivete.

From Project Gutenberg

In the vulgar contrast one overhears the considerable naivete that animals have instinct and man, intelligence.

From Project Gutenberg

For the Japanese temperament is ever on the verge of a smile which breaks out with catching naivete at the first provocation.

From Project Gutenberg

Padre Esteban for an instant was himself embarrassed; Mrs. Brimmer quickly recovered her usual bewildering naivete.

From Project Gutenberg

Oliver, puzzled by his naivete, assured him that such things were not uncommon—not at least in Mob Territory.

From Project Gutenberg