Synonyms Examples Word Origin
See more synonyms for naive on Thesaurus.com having or showing unaffected simplicity of nature or absence of artificiality; unsophisticated; ingenuous. 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. having or marked by a simple, unaffectedly direct style reflecting little or no formal training or technique: valuable naive 19th-century American portrait paintings. not having previously been the subject of a scientific experiment, as an animal. Show More
Origin of naive 1645–55; <
French, feminine of
naïf, Old French naif natural, instinctive <
Latin nātīvus native Related forms na·ive·ly , adverb na·ive·ness , noun un·na·ive , adjective un·na·ive·ly , adverb Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words for naive innocent ,
simple ,
sincere ,
ignorant ,
unsophisticated ,
wide-eyed ,
aboveboard ,
artless ,
callow ,
candid ,
countrified ,
credulous ,
forthright ,
frank ,
fresh ,
green ,
guileless ,
gullible ,
harmless ,
impulsive Examples from the Web for naive Contemporary Examples of naive I was naive enough to assume that he would, at most, rob me.
Artists now consider the Ideal Palace a piece of “naive ” or “outsider” art.
She tackles weighty subjects with a naive sensibility and faux-innocence, but skillfully avoids dumbing them down.
I was definitely naive , I think the main similarity between me and Hal is that we were naive .
Maybe you can call it naive but that's the way Shae simply is.
Historical Examples of naive She raised her blue eyes toward the ceiling in a naive rapture.
A fellow of some innocence in his naive duplicity, but none the less dangerous.
At this naive statement, the sheepman could not restrain a smile.
Not that I should advise you to imitate this naive way out of a difficulty.
Some of the forms it assumes are simple and naive , like feudal rights.
British Dictionary definitions for naive having or expressing innocence and credulity; ingenuous (as collective noun; preceded by the ) only the naive believed him artless or unsophisticated lacking developed powers of analysis, reasoning, or criticism a naive argument another word for primitive (def. 5) Show More
Derived Forms naively , navely or nafly , adverb naiveness , naveness or nafness , noun Word Origin for naive C17: from French, feminine of naïf, from Old French naif native, spontaneous, from Latin nātīvus native , from nasci to be born
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for naive adj. 1650s, "natural, simple, artless," from French naïve , fem. of naïf , from Old French naif "naive, natural, genuine; just born; foolish, innocent; unspoiled, unworked" (13c.), from Latin nativus "not artificial," also "native, rustic," literally "born, innate, natural" (see native (adj.)). Related: Naively .
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Lacking worldliness and sophistication. Simple and credulous as a child. Not previously subjected to experiments. Not having previously taken or received a particular drug. Show More
One who is artless, credulous, or uncritical. Show More
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
