naivety

noun

nä-ˈē-və-tē How to pronounce naivety (audio)
variants also naïvety
Definition of naivetynext
chiefly British
as in innocence
the quality or state of being simple and sincere the contention that the royal family took advantage of the young Diana's naivety

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 naivety Spain played their own part, outstanding on the day, but for France, injuries, yellow cards, under-performance and tactical naivety conspired to produce one of the most underwhelming performances in recent World Cup memory by a tournament favourite. — Adam Crafton, New York Times, 16 July 2026 But Iraq’s inability to keep the margin of defeat narrow when that very well could be the tiebreaker for one of the top eight third-place spots showed a bit of naivety that could prove very damaging. — Ian Nicholas Quillen, Forbes.com, 18 June 2026 Willmett and Harris are clearly uninterested in euphemisms, so there’s an exaggerated naivety to their lyrics. — Alex Robert Ross, Pitchfork, 8 June 2026 Twenty years ago, betting on New York as a serious technology hub felt contrarian to the point of naivety. — Patrick Chun, Fortune, 26 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for naivety
Recent Examples of Synonyms for naivety
  1. innocence
  2. naturalness
  3. simplicity
  4. sincerity
  5. ignorance
Noun
  • Since then, Andrew has been keeping a low profile and maintains his innocence.
    — Allison DeGrushe, StyleCaster, 4 Oct. 2026
  • As a mother and someone who has fought to protect the innocence of children, this crosses a line.
    — Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of innocence
Noun
  • Beauty, grace, freshness, naturalness, youth—all qualities which women have so often been reduced to.
    — Laird Borrelli-Persson, Vogue, 25 Sep. 2026
  • The young actors are appealing, led by Lilah Pate and Chabley Ponce; there’s a sweetness and naturalness to their cameraderie that stands out amid so much mugging and gives the film a lift.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of naturalness
Noun
  • But the beautiful simplicity of East of Eden has always been its idea that nothing is finished.
    — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 2 Oct. 2026
  • These poems are made with some of the simplicity and directness of a song.
    — Colm Tóibín, Literary Hub, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of simplicity
Noun
  • Credibility question Corbett’s own sincerity, however, has been called into question in a defamation lawsuit regarding claims made against a client’s opponent in Burr Ridge’s 2019 mayoral race.
    — Dan Petrella, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Their sincerity and humor come from the cast’s commitment to the mundane, said Ron Oliver, writer and director of many Hallmark films.
    — Anthony Solorzano, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of sincerity
Noun
  • Trump’s claim that the supply of Venezuelan oil will bring gas prices down is a macedoine of aspiration and ignorance.
    — Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Despite the claims of any number of charlatans who prey on the American brand of cuddly benighted ignorance, the universe will not manifest an alternate reality for anyone who simply wishes for it with sufficient longing.
    — Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of ignorance

Browse Nearby Words

naïveté
naivety
naked
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Cite this Entry

“Naivety.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/naivety. Accessed 10 Oct. 2026.

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