naively

American  

[nah-eev-lee] / nɑˈiv li /

Or naïvely

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.

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Other Word Forms

• unnaively adverb

Etymology

Origin of naively

naive ( def. ) + -ly

Example Sentences

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

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

Their boutique launch caps a whirlwind year that started with both Gaston and Cooney planning—perhaps naively, they said—to continue working at the Justice Department during the second Trump presidency.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 22, 2025

“Things are not as they used to be,” Charles naively says.

From Salon • Sep. 14, 2025

He said naively, “I’ll ask our father where it is so we can take flowers.”

From "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck

Related Words

• foolishly
• stupidly