naive
na|ive /naɪ'iːv, AM nɑː-/
also naïve
[ADJ] oft it v-link ADJ to-inf, ADJ to-inf
If you describe someone as naive, you think they lack experience and so expect things to be easy or people to be honest or kind.
It's naive to think that teachers are always tolerant...
...naive idealists...
Their view was that he had been politically naive.
= unrealistic
● naively [ADV] usu ADV with v
...naively applying Western solutions to Eastern problems...
I thought, naively, that this would be a nine-to-five job.
● naivety [N-UNCOUNT]
I was alarmed by his naivety and ignorance of international affairs.
also naïve
[ADJ] oft it v-link ADJ to-inf, ADJ to-inf
If you describe someone as naive, you think they lack experience and so expect things to be easy or people to be honest or kind.
It's naive to think that teachers are always tolerant...
...naive idealists...
Their view was that he had been politically naive.
= unrealistic
● naively [ADV] usu ADV with v
...naively applying Western solutions to Eastern problems...
I thought, naively, that this would be a nine-to-five job.
● naivety [N-UNCOUNT]
I was alarmed by his naivety and ignorance of international affairs.