naiveté

or na·ïve·té, na·ive·te

[ nah-eev-tey, -ee-vuh-tey, -eev-tey, -ee-vuh- ]

noun

1. the quality or state of being naive; natural or artless simplicity.
2. a naive action, remark, etc.

Word History and Origins

Origin of naiveté¹

First recorded in 1665–75; from French; naive, -ity ( def )

Example Sentences

But we were attempting a deliberate naiveté, a decision to approach these books as if they might have something to teach us.

From The Daily Beast

But aging Jonas also has the perhaps unintended effect of making his naiveté seem slightly imbecilic.

From The Daily Beast

The whole point of being a pageant queen is to trot around in your bikini to be ogled at while feigning sexual naiveté.

From The Daily Beast

It really points to the naiveté of the people on the right because this is a human story.

From The Daily Beast

That vivacious naiveté has served him well, universalizing much of what he writes.

From The Daily Beast

He thought of Hilda separately, and he looked for her upon the boards with the naiveté of a desire to see the woman he knew.

From Project Gutenberg

They were more sincere, open-hearted, and passionate, as artists are; they exhibited a kind of child-like naiveté.

From Project Gutenberg

He seemed older: the sentimental naiveté that had been always in his face seemed now entirely to have left him.

From Project Gutenberg

"But I am not hungry," said the baby, with most interesting naiveté.

From Project Gutenberg

In applying this test to Pamela, the author of Pamela Censured displays a curious mixture of naiveté and sophistication.

From Project Gutenberg