–adjective
having or showing unaffected simplicity of nature or absence of artificiality; unsophisticated; ingenuous.
having or showing a lack of experience, judgment, or information; credulous: She's so naive she believes everything she reads. He has a very naive attitude toward politics.
—Synonyms
1. simple, unaffected, unsuspecting, artless, guileless, candid, open, plain.
1. simple, unaffected, unsuspecting, artless, guileless, candid, open, plain.
—Antonyms
1. sophisticated, artful.
1. sophisticated, artful.
Naive. Dictionary.com. Dictionary.com Unabridged. Random House, Inc.http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Naive (accessed: April 26, 2010).
Cynical [sin-i-kuh
l]
l] -adjective
- a person who believes that only selfishness motivates human actions and who disbelieves in or minimizes selfless acts or disinterested points of view.
- a person who shows or expresses a bitterly or sneeringly cynical attitude.
—Synonyms
pessimistic, sarcastic, satirical
—Antonyms
optomistic.
cynical. Dictionary.com. Dictionary.com Unabridged. Random House, Inc.http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/cynical (accessed: April 26, 2010).
Why are these two words not listed as antonyms of each-other? In fact don't they describe the opposite ends of a scale measuring trust in human action. I can't help but think, whenever someone being described as a cynic is held in a positive light, or when naiveté is held in a negative one, how either extreme is undesirable. I certainly don't approach new business deals naively; but at the same time doesn't the company of a cynic tire quickly?
Each of these ends of the scale has its place, is not naiveté a prerequisite for falling in love? While cynicism the cornerstone to strategy, whether it be in business, politics or war? So now, when I hear these words used to describe thought or action, I find myself saying, " Yes, that was cynical for sure, but its good to see he still had room for some naiveté"
