naively

variants or naïvely

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of naively Besides, Carmella doesn’t even know about this, Shannon naively says, so no harm, no foul. — Tom Smyth, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2026 A lot of us naively assumed that demand would keep growing forever. — Brandon Hernandez, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Sep. 2026 Unfortunately, one extra week of rest is not sufficient to rectify this problem (even assuming — naively — that NYRA kicks the Belmont back a week to accommodate our shift). — Stephen J. K. Walters, Baltimore Sun, 12 Aug. 2026 Her parents naively thought these nuns would look after their kid for a couple of weeks. — Zachary Fletcher, USA Today, 7 July 2026 When the United States invaded the Philippines during the Spanish-American War, Twain naively imagined that the country would be liberated and turned into a republic. — Ron Chernow, The Atlantic, 2 July 2026 Schmidt is hardly alone in naively extrapolating this trend out and concluding that, in the limit, AI will inevitably consume all the energy in the world. — Rob Toews, Forbes.com, 22 June 2026 Readers might think that from the perspective of the dog my engagement with its gaze is naively anthropocentric. — Literary Hub, 10 June 2026 Educators are no longer naively wondering if students will use generative AI to do their homework for them. — Jocelyn Gecker, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for naively
Adverb
  • And incumbents can sincerely believe important work remains unfinished.
    — Nancy Forster-Holt, The Conversation, 6 Oct. 2026
  • In a scene at the beginning of Episode 8, actor Siena Agudong, who plays Sue, expresses Flanagan’s belief that sincerely openhearted people like Carrie are met with rejection and seen as alien in a world where cynicism is our default mode.
    — Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026
Adverb
  • Triumph Motorcycles has spent decades turning a once-fading British marque into a genuinely global name.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Whereas Jake, the powerful warlock who’s got so much going for him, has darker qualities, in some ways, than Ollie, who is a genuinely great guy and is now trying to make the best of [his circumstances].
    — Selome Hailu, Variety, 3 Oct. 2026
Adverb
  • First is through a global campaign to raise awareness and send the message that women deserve to take care of their mental health and speak openly about it.
    — Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Lena is anchored, however, by her relationship with Yana Kuchina, a former editor of a Moscow publishing house who writes openly about living with cerebral palsy.
    — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 7 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Naively.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/naively. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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