naive — showing a lack of experience, wisdom, or judgment; innocent and trusting
Part of speech: ADJECTIVE
Definition: showing a lack of experience, wisdom, or judgment; innocent and trusting
Pronunciation (IPA): /naɪˈiv/
Example Sentences
- He was naive enough to believe that his cat would actually come when called.
- Don't be naive - nobody gives away free money without expecting something in return.
- She had a naive hope that her brother would share his pizza willingly.
naive
ADJECTIVE[/naɪˈiv/]
showing a lack of experience, wisdom, or judgment; innocent and trusting

The naive tourist trusted the stranger too easily.

Her naive smile showed she believed everyone's promises.

Though naive, she chose to believe in herself and achieve her dream.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
From French naïf, derived from Latin nativus meaning 'native' or 'natural.' The word originally referred to something in its natural state, and evolved to mean artless or ingenuous.
Breakdown
Latin nativus (native, natural) → French naïf → English naive; the root nat- means 'born' or 'natural'
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“He was naive enough to believe that his cat would actually come when called.”
“Don't be naive - nobody gives away free money without expecting something in return.”
“She had a naive hope that her brother would share his pizza willingly.”
“It would be naive to assume that learning English is easy just because you watched one movie.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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