Advertisement

Advertisement

View synonyms for ingenuous

ingenuous

[ in-jen-yoo-uhs ]

adjective

  1. free from reserve, restraint, or dissimulation; candid; sincere.

    Synonyms: open, straightforward, frank, guileless

  2. Synonyms: unsophisticated

  3. Obsolete. honorable or noble.


ingenuous

/ ɪnˈdʒɛnjʊəs /

adjective

  1. naive, artless, or innocent
  2. candid; frank; straightforward


Discover More

Confusables Note

Discover More

Derived Forms

  • inˈgenuousness, noun
  • inˈgenuously, adverb

Discover More

Other Words From

  • in·genu·ous·ly adverb
  • in·genu·ous·ness noun
  • half-in·genu·ous adjective
  • half-in·genu·ous·ly adverb
  • half-in·genu·ous·ness noun

Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of ingenuous1

First recorded in 1590–1600; from Latin ingenuus “native, free-born, honorable, frank; (of studies or occupations) befitting a freeborn person, liberal,” equivalent to in- verb prefix + gen- (base of gignere “to bring into being”) + -uus adjective suffix; in- 2, ingenious, -ous

Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of ingenuous1

C16: from Latin ingenuus freeborn, worthy of a freeman, virtuous, from in- ² + -genuus, from gignere to beget

Discover More

Example Sentences

Netanyahu, and even some ingenuous pundits, are bragging about how Israel and America have never been closer.

During the ingenuous apologia pro vita sua Miss Anne regarded him with her honest candour.

This was the most perfect specimen of the bluff, hearty, breezy, almost ingenuous Westerner that Gwynne had encountered.

"I know you wouldn't wish me to affect an interest I do not feel," said Haggard with an ingenuous smile.

His replies were perfectly ingenuous, evincing nothing of the natural taciturnity and shyness of the Indian mind.

Her piety was not free from puerile pleasures; for everything, even religion, was poetry to her ingenuous heart.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement


ingenuityIngerland