NAIVETE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does naivete mean? 

• NAIVETE (noun)
  The noun NAIVETE has 1 sense:

1. lack of sophistication or worldliness

  Familiarity information: NAIVETE used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• NAIVETE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Lack of sophistication or worldliness

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

naiveness; naivete; naivety

Hypernyms ("naivete" is a kind of...):

quality (an essential and distinguishing attribute of something or someone)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "naivete"):

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)

Antonym:

sophistication (the quality or character of being intellectually sophisticated and worldly through cultivation or experience or disillusionment)

 Context examples 

Harriet was on the point of leaving the room, and only stopt to say, with a very interesting naivete, Oh! dear, no, never.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

“He had never seen so lovely a face, and was delighted with her naivete.”

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

The naivete of Miss Smith's manners—and altogether—Oh, it is most admirable!

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

In the few minutes' conversation which she had yet had with him, while Harriet had been partially insensible, he had spoken of her terror, her naivete, her fervour as she seized and clung to his arm, with a sensibility amused and delighted; and just at last, after Harriet's own account had been given, he had expressed his indignation at the abominable folly of Miss Bickerton in the warmest terms.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)