Synonyms for naive
nɑˈivnaive

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. naive

   A candid statement is meant to be true to the real facts and just to all parties; a fair statement is really so. Fair is applied to the conduct; candid is not; as, fair treatment, "a fair field, and no favor." One who is frank has a fearless and unconstrained truthfulness. Honest and ingenuous unite in expressing contempt for deceit. On the other hand, artless, guileless, naive, simple, and unsophisticated express the goodness which comes from want of the knowledge or thought of evil. As truth is not always agreeable or timely, candid and frank have often an objectionable sense; "to be candid with you," "to be perfectly frank," are regarded as sure preludes to something disagreeable. Open and unreserved may imply unstudied truthfulness or defiant recklessness; as, open admiration, open robbery. There may be transparent integrity or transparent fraud. Sincere applies to the feelings, as being all that one's words would imply.

   Synonyms:
   aboveboard, artless, candid, fair, frank, guileless, honest, impartial, ingenuous, innocent, open, simple, sincere, straightforward, transparent, truthful, unbiased, unprejudiced, unreserved, unsophisticated

   Antonyms:
   adroit, artful, crafty, cunning, deceitful, designing, diplomatic, foxy, insincere, intriguing, knowing, maneuvering, sharp, shrewd, sly, subtle, tricky, wily

   Preposition:
   Candid in debate; candid to or toward opponents; candid with friend or foe; to be candid about or in regard to the matter.

Princeton's WordNetRate these synonyms:2.8 / 4 votes

1. naive, naifadjective

   marked by or showing unaffected simplicity and lack of guile or worldly experience

   "a teenager's naive ignorance of life"; "the naive assumption that things can only get better"; "this naive simple creature with wide friendly eyes so eager to believe appearances"

   Synonyms:
   uninitiate, uninitiated, primitive, unenlightened, naif, uninstructed

   Antonyms:
   svelte, experient, worldly-wise, well-informed, experienced, intelligent, polished, blase, worldly, refined, conditioned, trained, learned, informed, sophisticated, urbane

2. primitive, naiveadjective

   of or created by one without formal training; simple or naive in style

   "primitive art such as that by Grandma Moses is often colorful and striking"

   Synonyms:
   rude, uninstructed, uninitiate, unenlightened, primitive, archaic, uninitiated, crude, naif

   Antonyms:
   polished, svelte, well-informed, worldly-wise, urbane, intelligent, blase, experient, experienced, informed, learned, worldly, sophisticated, trained, conditioned, refined

3. naiveadjective

   inexperienced

   Synonyms:
   uninitiate, uninitiated, primitive, unenlightened, naif, uninstructed

   Antonyms:
   urbane, polished, informed, refined, sophisticated, worldly, intelligent, blase, learned, svelte, conditioned, trained, experienced, well-informed, experient, worldly-wise

4. uninstructed, unenlightened, naiveadjective

   lacking information or instruction

   "lamentably unenlightened as to the laws"

   Synonyms:
   uninitiated, primitive, unenlightened, naif, uninitiate, uninstructed

   Antonyms:
   experient, sophisticated, intelligent, refined, learned, urbane, worldly-wise, svelte, blase, worldly, informed, conditioned, experienced, well-informed, polished, trained

5. uninitiate, uninitiated, naiveadjective

   not initiated; deficient in relevant experience

   "it seemed a bizarre ceremony to uninitiated western eyes"; "he took part in the experiment as a naive subject"

   Synonyms:
   uninitiated, primitive, unenlightened, naif, uninitiate, uninstructed

   Antonyms:
   blase, experienced, conditioned, svelte, sophisticated, learned, worldly, worldly-wise, informed, well-informed, polished, trained, experient, intelligent, refined, urbane

Matched Categories

1. • Fine Arts

Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated WordsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. naïveadjective

   Synonyms:
   artless, innocent, ingenuous, frank

PPDB, the paraphrase databaseRate these paraphrases:0.0 / 0 votes

1. List of paraphrases for "naive":

   naive, gullible, ingenuous, naivety, simple-minded, simplistic, childish, unsuspecting

Suggested Resources

1. naive

   Song lyrics by naive -- Explore a large variety of song lyrics performed by naive on the Lyrics.com website.

How to pronounce naive?

How to say naive in sign language?

Usage in printed sourcesFrom: 

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Words popularity by usage frequency

How to use naive in a sentence?

1. Peggy Monteleone:

   She was very naive and trusting, overly trusting.

2. Johnny Carson:

   I was so naive as a kid I used to sneak behind the barn and do nothing.

3. Shane Lewis:

   The dangers are, you would n’t go near a dog when it’s eating its dinner, but people let their children go over, and I’ve seen kangaroos lash out thinking the kids going to take their food when they’re just coming to pat them, we try to scare them into not being naive and thinking they’re cute and cuddly by showing them the photos [ of injuries caused by kangaroos ], what can happen, and not to give them any food.

4. David Asher:

   It is U.S. law to engage in effective arms control and nonproliferation, not facilitate it via ‘scientific cooperation’ in the name of threat reduction or refusal to engage in effective compliance with Communist countries that openly aim to incorporate synthetic biology into the future of warfare (apparently with our naive material and scientific assistance), we don’t know for certain what happened in Wuhan but we had every reason to investigate and ask questions.

5. Thomas Szasz, The Second Sin (1973) "Personal Conduct":

   The stupid neither forgive nor forget; the naive forgive and forget; the wise forgive but do not forget.