naively

Or na·ïve·ly

[nah-eev-lee]

adverb

1. in a way that shows a lack of experience, judgment, or information.

   I'll just stretch the contents of my talks into a book, I thought naively, but after three years of hard work I’m still far from completing a manuscript.

2. in a way that shows simplicity of character and the absence of artificiality or sophistication.

   The ancient historian Herodotus marks a transitional stage in cultural anthropology, between naively artless chronicle writing and scientific research.

3. in a way not influenced by previous participation in a scientific experiment or awareness of its real purpose.

   Participants behave naively and more naturally if they don’t know the true nature or objective of the study.

Other Word Forms

• unnaively adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of naively¹

naive ( def. ) + -ly

Related Words

• foolishly www.thesaurus.com
• stupidly www.thesaurus.com