Naive: meaning, definitions and examples

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naive

 

[ naษชหˆiหv ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

inexperienced

Lacking experience, wisdom, or judgement; unsophisticated or naive. Naive individuals may be easily misled or taken advantage of due to their lack of experience.

Synonyms

credulous, inexperienced, unsophisticated.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
naive

Used to describe someone who lacks experience or understanding, often because they are young or innocent. This term can suggest a lack of worldly knowledge.

  • She was naive to think the job would be easy
  • His naive trust in strangers often got him into trouble
inexperienced

Describes someone who lacks practical knowledge or skill in a particular activity or field. It's often used in professional or specific skill contexts.

  • The inexperienced driver had trouble navigating the busy streets
  • She was inexperienced in public speaking, so she was very nervous
unsophisticated

Applied to someone who is simple, not complicated, or lacking in worldly knowledge and refinement. It can sometimes imply a charming simplicity but may also be used negatively to suggest a lack of sophistication.

  • His tastes are unsophisticated; he prefers simple, home-cooked meals
  • The small village was charming and unsophisticated
credulous

Refers to someone who is too ready to believe things and is easily deceived. This word often has a negative connotation, implying gullibility.

  • The con artist took advantage of credulous people
  • His credulous nature made him fall for the scam

Examples of usage

  • She was so naive that she believed everything he told her.
  • Don't be so naive, not everyone has good intentions.
Context #2 | Adjective

simple

Showing a lack of sophistication or worldliness, often in a charming or endearing way. Naive can also mean simple and straightforward in a positive sense.

Synonyms

artless, childlike, simple.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
naive

This word is used to describe someone who lacks experience or judgment in a specific area. It often has a slightly negative connotation, implying that the person is easily deceived or not worldly-wise.

  • She was naive to trust a stranger with her savings.
  • His naive comments during the meeting revealed his lack of experience in the field.
simple

This can describe someone or something that is easy to understand or uncomplicated. When referring to a person, it can sometimes have a negative connotation, implying a lack of intelligence or sophistication.

  • The instructions were simple enough for everyone to follow.
  • He lived a simple life, free from the complexities of modern existence.
artless

This word describes someone who is genuine and without deceit or guile. It can be used in both positive and neutral contexts to highlight someoneโ€™s honesty and simplicity.

  • Her artless charm made everyone feel comfortable around her.
  • His artless questions showed he was genuinely interested in learning.
childlike

This term is used to describe qualities that are reminiscent of a child, such as innocence, wonder, and simplicity. It is usually positive or neutral, celebrating the purity and honesty associated with children.

  • Her childlike enthusiasm for the project was contagious.
  • The old man had a childlike curiosity for the world.

Examples of usage

  • His naive approach to problem-solving was refreshing in a world filled with complexity.
  • The naive simplicity of her artwork captured the hearts of many.

Translations

Translations of the word "naive" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น ingรชnuo

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคธเฅ€เคงเคพ-เคธเคพเคฆเคพ

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช naiv

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ naif

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะฝะฐั—ะฒะฝะธะน

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ naiwny

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ใƒŠใ‚คใƒผใƒ–

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท naรฏf

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ ingenuo

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท saf

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ์ˆœ์ง„ํ•œ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ุณุงุฐุฌ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ naivnรญ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ naivnรฝ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ๅคฉ็œŸ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ naiven

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ barnalegur

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ะฐาฃา“ะฐะป

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒ›แƒแƒ แƒขแƒ˜แƒ•แƒแƒ“ แƒ›แƒแƒแƒ–แƒ แƒแƒ•แƒœแƒ”

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ saf

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ ingenuo

Etymology

The word 'naive' has its origins in the French word 'naรฏve', which means 'natural, simple'. It entered the English language in the 17th century. Originally used to describe someone lacking sophistication or experience, the word has evolved to encompass a sense of charm and innocence. Over time, 'naive' has become a term that can be both positive and negative, depending on the context in which it is used.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranked #10,002, this word falls into high-advanced vocabulary. It appears less frequently but is valuable for expressing precise meanings in specific contexts.