What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
ingenuous
Example
Her ingenuous smile and honest demeanor won over the entire room. [ingenuous: adjective]
Example
He had an ingenuous approach to problem-solving, always looking for the simplest solution. [ingenuous: adjective]
naive
Example
She was naive to believe that everyone had good intentions. [naive: adjective]
Example
His naive approach to investing led to significant financial losses. [naive: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Naive is more commonly used than ingenuous in everyday language. Naive is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while ingenuous is less common and tends to be used in more formal contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between ingenuous and naive?
Ingenuous is typically associated with a more formal tone, while naive can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
