NAIVETY Synonyms: 68 Similar and Opposite Words

naivety

noun

nä-ˈē-və-tē

variants also naïvety

Definition of naivety

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

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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

Noun

The joy and innocence that greeted students and teachers on their return to school in early September has been lost, replaced by a somber and quiet aura.

— Ray Sanchez, CNN Money, 18 Oct. 2026
Holmes, the former founder of Theranos who was found guilty on four counts of fraud in 2022 and who insists on her innocence throughout the documentary, begins her 11-year sentence in a federal prison in Texas.

— Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 17 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

Still, the sincerity matters, and so does the achievement of realizing something this strange with such conviction.

— Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 14 Oct. 2026
After many fans online questioned the sincerity of Art of Play’s statement, Clarkson herself stepped back into the fray.

— Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of sincerity

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naïveté

naivety

naked

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“Naivety.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/naivety. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of naivety

noun

Example Sentences

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