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naivete

/naɪivəˈteɪ/
/naɪivəˈteɪ/
IPA guide

Other forms: naivetes

If you suggest that world peace could be achieved by handing out cookies in warring nations, you would be revealing a certain amount of naivete. This is a lack of wisdom and sophistication.

Naivete has four syllables and is pronounced nigh-eve-i-TAY. The root naïve is a French adjective meaning “natural, just born.” Because it suggests innocence or ignorance, naivete is often associated with children, who lack experience and knowledge. But plenty of adults, too, display a certain amount of naivete when they make assumptions based on ignorance, an inability to grasp a situation, or a tendency to oversimplify complex things.

Definitions of naivete
  1. noun
    lack of sophistication or worldliness
    synonyms: naiveness, naivety
    see moresee less
    antonyms:
    sophistication
    the quality or character of being intellectually sophisticated and worldly through cultivation or experience or disillusionment
    types:
    artlessness, ingenuousness, innocence, naturalness
    the quality of innocent naivete
    credulousness, gullibility
    tendency to believe too readily and therefore to be easily deceived
    simple mindedness, simpleness, simplicity
    a lack of penetration or subtlety
    innocency
    an innocent quality or thing or act
    type of:
    quality
    an essential and distinguishing attribute of something or someone
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