Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

ingenuous

adjective
/ɪnˈdʒɛnjuəs/
Definition
Open, innocent, and unsuspecting; showing a natural simplicity and lack of guile.
Examples
  • Her ingenuous nature made her beloved by everyone in the community.
  • Despite his age, he was still as ingenuous as a child, trusting everyone he met.
  • Although she appeared ingenuous, her actions revealed a deeper understanding of the world.
Meaning
Ingenuous refers to a person who is honest and straightforward, often to the point of being naïve or unsophisticated.
Synonyms
  • naive
  • innocent
  • frank
  • candid
  • simple