naively
Americanadverb
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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.
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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.
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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
Etymology
Origin of naively
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.
I naively thought the Saunter would be the same.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 14, 2026
In Brontë’s book, Isabella marries Heathcliff naively believing he might shape up into a gentleman and flees with their son when she realizes that is out of the question.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 13, 2026
Ridgeon said she "rather naively" thought she and her daughter could catch them quite easily using slip leads.
From BBC • Jan. 10, 2026
That means that even if the Fed delivers multiple rate cuts this year, the labor market may not benefit as much as some might be naively counting on.
From MarketWatch • Jan. 7, 2026
“I’ll have lots of money, so it will be easy,” I said naively.
From "Kaffir Boy: An Autobiography" by Mark Mathabane
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.
