guileless

[ gahyl-lis ]

adjective

1. free from deception or slyness; sincere and straightforward:

   No matter the situation, she was always transparent, guileless, and above any petty manipulative ploys.

2. lacking awareness of the world and worldly things; innocent or naive:

   He agreed to this crafty proposal, being guileless, and soon found himself betrayed and in trouble.

ˈguileless

/ ˈɡaɪllɪs /

adjective

1. free from guile; ingenuous

Derived Forms

• ˈguilelessly, adverb
• ˈguilelessness, noun

Other Words From

• guile·less·ly adverb
• guile·less·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of guileless¹

First recorded in 1720–30; guile + -less

Example Sentences

She is a fierce political operative, a guileless influencer and a relentless voice against the far right in this Christian, white, cattle-talking town of about 12,600.

From Los Angeles Times

The whole idea of a tourist attraction built as a guileless ode to love, and shrine to a Slovak poem, may strike you, at first blush, as defying both rhyme and reason.

From New York Times

When Ian Lavender signed up in 1968 to play guileless Private Frank Pike in a new BBC sitcom called Dad's Army, he had no clue he was stepping into TV history.

From BBC

Birmingham-born Lavender was just 22 when he was cast as the guileless platoon member, in what was then a new BBC sitcom.

From BBC

DeBose is more stoic, her character guarded but also somewhat guileless.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• unsophisticated