Ingenuousness - Meaning, Definition & English Examples
Ingenuousness is the quality of being innocent, honest, and straightforward, often showing a lack of guile or deceit. It reflects sincerity and openness in one’s actions or speech.
Definition:
The quality of being innocent, honest, and straightforward without deceit or cunning.
Synonyms:
innocence, naivety, candor, sincerity, openness
Part of Speech:
noun
Antonyms:
cunning, deceitfulness, guile
Common Collocations:
childlike ingenuousness, charming ingenuousness, refreshing ingenuousness
Derivatives:
ingenuous, ingenuously
Usage Tips:
Use "ingenuousness" to describe someone’s honest and trusting nature without implying foolishness.
Common Phrases:
an air of ingenuousness, disarming ingenuousness
Etymology:
From Latin "ingenuus" meaning freeborn, noble, or frank; later evolving to mean honest and open.
Examples:
- 1. Her ingenuousness made her easy to trust in negotiations.
- 2. The child’s ingenuousness charmed everyone at the party.
- 3. His speech lacked artifice but was full of genuine ingenuousness.
- 4. She answered with such ingenuousness that no one doubted her sincerity.