ingenuous
Candidly without guile
Ingenuous describes someone who is open, candid, and without guile—innocently straightforward rather than calculating or deceptive: Her ingenuous manner put everyone at ease.
The word often implies a naïveté that leaves someone vulnerable to manipulation.
Not to be confused with ingenious, which means clever or inventive.
Free from deceit
- unaffectedNot changed or influenced
- unpretentiousLacking false superiority
- unassumingNot making claims
- naturalNot artificially produced
unstudied · unselfconscious · uncontrived · unforced · unpolished · simple · uncalculating · without-airs
Directly honest in manner
- frankOpen and direct
- directUndeviating or to guide
- openNot closed
- straightforwardClear and uncomplicated
honest · blunt · plain-spoken · outspoken · unreserved · transparent · upfront · unvarnished
Unmixed, without impurities
- wholesomeConducive to well-being
- untaintedFree from contamination
- unspoiledNot damaged or degraded
- uncorruptedNot spoiled or debased
childlike · trusting · trustful · simple · unworldly · blameless · virtuous · uncynical
Lacking refinement or complexity
- gullibleEasily deceived
- trustingInclined to believe others
- credulousProne to blind trust
- unworldlyLacking practical awareness
green · inexperienced · callow · unsuspecting · unseasoned · uninitiated · impressionable · wide-eyed
guileless
Free from deceit
- unaffectedNot changed or influenced
- unpretentiousLacking false superiority
- unassumingNot making claims
natural · unstudied · unselfconscious · uncontrived · unforced · unpolished · simple · uncalculating · without-airs · undesigning
forthright
Directly honest in manner
straightforward · honest · blunt · plain-spoken · outspoken · unreserved · transparent · upfront · unvarnished · unfiltered
pure
Unmixed, without impurities
uncorrupted · childlike · trusting · trustful · simple · unworldly · blameless · virtuous · uncynical · idealistic
unsophisticated
Lacking refinement or complexity
unworldly · green · inexperienced · callow · unsuspecting · unseasoned · uninitiated · impressionable · wide-eyed · unguarded
- innocenceinnocent, innocence, purity, pure, blameless
- trusting traitsnaive, gullible, trustful, credulous, confiding
- naivetenaivety, naive, innocence, gullible, gullibility
- integrityintegrity, honesty, truthfulness, uprightness, rectitude
- kind traitskind, caring, compassionate, nurturing, tender
- unrefinedcrude, coarse, rough, unpolished, uncouth
ingenuousworldly-wise
Experienced in practical matters
worldly · sophisticated · cosmopolitan · jaded · cynical