artless

American  

[ahrt-lis] / ˈɑrt lɪs /

adjective

1. free from deceit, cunning, or craftiness; ingenuous.

   an artless child.

   Synonyms:

   sincere, candid, unaffected, plain, frank, open, guileless, unsophisticated, naive

   Antonyms:

   cunning

2. not artificial; natural; simple; uncontrived.

   artless beauty; artless charm.

3. lacking art, knowledge, or skill.

4. poorly made; inartistic; clumsy; crude.

   an artless translation.

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artless British  

/ ˈɑːtlɪs /

adjective

1. free from deceit, guile, or artfulness; ingenuous

   an artless remark

2. natural, without artifice; unpretentious

   artless elegance

3. without art or skill

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Other Word Forms

• artlessly adverb
• artlessness noun

Etymology

Origin of artless

First recorded in 1580–90; art ¹ + -less

Example Sentences

Cluttered with crude “dad humor” cartoons, sappy inspirational wall hangings and peeling travel posters, these intimate spaces are often artless.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 30, 2025

By doing that, its critics are no better than the artless, ahistorical fascists they purport to abhor.

From Salon • May 6, 2025

Not too crusty, not too knobby, so artless as to be almost invisible.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 9, 2022

Roger Goodell has a last chance to rescue his reputation as an NFL commissioner, and maybe even become an important one, despite years of artless dodging on issues from domestic violence to Deflategate.

From Washington Post • Oct. 18, 2021

“I kissed her,” began Demi, with artless frankness.

From "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott