Meaning & use

naively

adverb·Academic

In a way that shows a lack of experience, wisdom, or judgment, often through being too trusting.

See it in a sentence

He naively believed the stranger's promise to double his money within a week.

She naively assumed that everyone at the meeting shared her good intentions.

A note on using this word

Naively often carries a mild criticism, suggesting the person should have known better rather than simply lacking information.

Words with a similar meaning

innocentlycredulously

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Words with an opposite meaning

cynically

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