Meaning & use

naive

adjective·Everyday

Showing a lack of experience, wisdom, or judgment, especially through being too trusting or simple.

See it in a sentence

He was naive enough to believe the stranger's promise of easy money.

Her naive optimism led her to assume every new colleague would be honest.

A note on using this word

Naive can sound mildly insulting, implying foolishness rather than a neutral lack of experience; innocent is gentler.

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