ingenuous
/ɪnˈdʒɛn.ju.əs/
Group 2Difficulty 3/3
Definition
- (adjective)
- Innocent and unsuspecting; artlessly frank GRE
Example in Context
The witness's ingenuous testimony, free of any apparent guile, proved more persuasive to the jury than the expert's polished analysis.
Synonyms
naiveinnocenttrusting
Etymology
Innocent and unsuspecting; straightforward.
- ingenuus (Latin) — native, freeborn
Memory Aid
😇Sounds like “ingenuous sounds like 'ingenious'”
Picture a naive child saying 'I'm INGENUOUS, I thought everyone was a superhero!'
Visual Association
👶A small child innocently believing that their teddy bear can talk and is secretly a superhero.
Semantic Clusters
Synonym Groups
Confusable Pairs
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “ingenuous” mean on the GRE?
ingenuous (adjective) means “Innocent and unsuspecting; artlessly frank”. The witness's ingenuous testimony, free of any apparent guile, proved more persuasive to the jury than the expert's polished analysis.
How to remember “ingenuous” for the GRE?
Mnemonic: “ingenuous” sounds like “ingenuous sounds like 'ingenious'”. Picture a naive child saying 'I'm INGENUOUS, I thought everyone was a superhero!'
What are synonyms for “ingenuous”?
Common synonyms: naive, innocent, trusting.