naive
Americanadjective
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having or showing a lack of experience, judgment, or information; credulous.
She's so naive she believes everything she reads.
He has a very naive attitude toward politics.
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having or showing unaffected simplicity of nature or absence of artificiality; unsophisticated; ingenuous.
- Antonyms:
- artful, sophisticated
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having or marked by a simple, unaffectedly direct style reflecting little or no formal training or technique.
valuable naive 19th-century American portrait paintings.
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not having previously been the subject of a scientific experiment, as an animal.
adjective
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having or expressing innocence and credulity; ingenuous
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( as collective noun; preceded by the )
only the naive believed him
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artless or unsophisticated
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lacking developed powers of analysis, reasoning, or criticism
a naive argument
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another word for primitive
noun
Usage
This word is spelled with a dieresis over the i (ï) in French, indicating that it is a separate vowel sound. Many people retain this spelling when writing in English.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of naive
First recorded in 1645–55; from French, feminine of naïf, Old French naif “natural, instinctive,” from Latin nātīvus native
Explanation
No one likes being called naive, since it means you lack sophistication or street smarts. A person who is too trusting can be criticized for being overly naive: "You're so naive, you think that map you bought online will really lead you to buried treasure!" Naive shares the same root as native, and originally meant "natural" or "not artificial." It can still be used in a more positive meaning when describing a charming lack of artificiality, as in "the naive style of folk art made by an untrained painter."
Vocabulary lists containing naive
"The Necklace" by Guy de Maupassant
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Essential Academic Vocabulary for Middle School Students, List 9
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The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Naive, blundering hobbyists and reckless pranksters can also veer into restricted airspace, setting off alarms and potentially shutting down airport traffic.
From Barron's • Oct. 14, 2025
"Naive, selfish, egotistical, ignorant. A lot of words to describe that interaction with Shipnuck," McIlroy said.
From Fox News • Feb. 22, 2022
Naive journalist turned soldier Marion Hargrove tests the patience of his superior officer, Sergeant Cramp.
From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 4, 2020
Naive as ever, he’s oblivious, but Penny, Leonard and the gang worry about its effect on his relationship with Amy; 8 p.m. on KIRO.
From Seattle Times • May 11, 2017
Naive as the statement was, he didn’t think Cal was naive.
From "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
