ingenuousness

noun

Definition of ingenuousnessnext
as in naturalness
the quality or state of being simple and sincere his aw-shucks ingenuousness endeared him to his sophisticated new friends

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of ingenuousness What was once a poignant effort to extend a state of ingenuousness is now tainted from the start. — Becca Rothfeld, New Yorker, 1 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ingenuousness
  1. naturalness
  2. innocence
  3. simplicity
  4. sincerity
  5. guilelessness
Noun
  • The ensemble of actors is convincing in its naturalness, with the characterizations remaining consistently precise and ambivalent.
    — Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Inside the wilderness, a big part of it is to return naturalness, right?
    — Alex Robinson, Outdoor Life, 29 July 2026
Definition of naturalness
Noun
  • No one in the courtroom is debating Patrick Clancy’s guilt or innocence.
    — Addie Morfoot, Variety, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Durk has maintained his innocence since being apprehended and he can be sentenced up to life in prison if convicted.
    — Michael Saponara, Billboard, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of innocence
Noun
  • While Van Patten’s current makeup routine is all about simplicity, that wasn’t always the case.
    — Katie Hill, PEOPLE, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Clinamen @ The Park Avenue Armory Céleste Boursier-Mougenot’s Clinamen was mesmerizing in its simplicity.
    — Jesse Kirshbaum, SPIN, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of simplicity
Noun
  • The human nervous system recognizes sincerity faster than polish.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Alter denounced Kanter Freedom as a bad-faith actor and questioned the sincerity of his concerns about transgender women in sports.
    — Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of sincerity
Noun
  • Still, Dunk believes in himself, like any good hero, and people are drawn to his guilelessness.
    — Sarah Larson, New Yorker, 27 Jan. 2026
  • But there’s a guilelessness to everything Bella does, a trust in the universe and an insatiable curiosity about humanity.
    — Katie Rife, Vulture, 9 Nov. 2025
Definition of guilelessness

Browse Nearby Words

ingenuously
ingenuousness
ingest
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Cite this Entry

“Ingenuousness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ingenuousness. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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