guileless

adjective

guile·​less ˈgī(-ə)l-ləs How to pronounce guileless (audio)
: innocent, naive
a straightforward man with a guileless smile
guilelessly adverb
guilelessness noun

Examples of guileless in a Sentence

she was an easygoing, guileless young woman who was comfortable just being herself
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Yet in Allerton’s presence, Lee becomes a charmer who seems as guileless as a stammering schoolboy. Stephanie Zacharek, TIME, 13 Dec. 2024 Mickey 17 is as guileless as Candide, while his successor is more aggressive and shifty-eyed. Tom Gliatto, People.com, 7 Mar. 2025 By contrast, Roman is sincere and guileless. David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 24 Jan. 2025 And Norton’s flawless portrayal of a guileless kid who might be suffering from multiple personality disorder is worth the admission price alone. Tomris Laffly, TIME, 20 Dec. 2024 See All Example Sentences for guileless

Word History

Etymology

see guile

First Known Use

circa 1616, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of guileless was circa 1616

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Guileless.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/guileless. Accessed 20 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

guileless

adjective
guile·​less ˈgī(ə)l-ləs How to pronounce guileless (audio)
: not sly or tricky : innocent, naïve
a guileless person
a guileless smile
guilelessly adverb
guilelessness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on guileless

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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