ingenuously
gb/ɪŋənˈusli/ us/ɪŋənˈusli/
C1
English
naivan, őszintén
C1
1
naivan
B1
Usage pattern:
[someone] [verb] ingenuously (that [clause])
He ingenuously assumed everyone would keep their promises.
Naivan azt feltételezte, hogy mindenki megtartja az ígéretét.
She smiled ingenuously, unaware of how the comment might sound.
Ártatlanul mosolygott, nem is sejtve, hogyan hangozhat a megjegyzése.
I ingenuously believed the first explanation I was given.
Learner examples
I ingenuously trusted him.
Naivan megbíztam benne.
She ingenuously thought it would be easy.
Naivan azt hitte, hogy könnyű lesz.
Common mistake:
Do not confuse with ingeniously (= cleverly, inventively). Ingenuously is about innocence or guilelessness, not cleverness.
Meaning
naively, with innocent trust
Collocations
ingenuously asked
|ingenuously assume
|ingenuously believed
|ingenuously trust
|ingenuously optimistic
|ingenuously naive
|ingenuously unaware
|ingenuously expect
|ingenuously suppose
|ingenuously accept
Synonyms
naively (More direct emphasis on lack of experience or judgment.)
|
innocently (Emphasizes purity of intention and lack of wrongdoing.)
Antonyms
cynically (Shows distrust and a belief that motives are selfish.)
|
shrewdly (Shows practical, skeptical judgment rather than innocence.)
Themes
emotions
|communication
|social_life
Definition
in a way that is innocent and a little naive
In a way that shows innocence, lack of experience, or a tendency to trust too easily.
C1
FORMAL
2
őszintén
B1
Usage pattern:
[someone] [verb] ingenuously (about [something])
He ingenuously admitted that he didn’t understand the instructions.
Őszintén bevallotta, hogy nem értette az utasításokat.
She ingenuously described what happened, without trying to make herself look better.
Őszintén elmondta, mi történt, anélkül hogy jobb színben akarta volna feltüntetni magát.
The CEO spoke ingenuously about the company’s mistakes.
Learner examples
He answered ingenuously.
Őszintén válaszolt.
She spoke ingenuously about her feelings.
Őszintén beszélt az érzéseiről.
Common mistake:
Learners may choose 'ingenuously' when they mean 'ingeniously' (cleverly). Use ingenuously for honest openness, not clever methods.
Meaning
openly and sincerely, without guile
Collocations
ingenuously admitted
|ingenuously confessed
|ingenuously explained
|ingenuously replied
|ingenuously described
|ingenuously stated
|ingenuously offered
|ingenuously insisted
|ingenuously acknowledged
|ingenuously apologized
Synonyms
candidly (Often emphasizes frankness, sometimes bluntness.)
|
honestly (More general; may not imply innocence or simplicity.)
|
openly (Emphasizes lack of secrecy; may not imply innocence.)
Antonyms
deceitfully (Directly involves trying to mislead.)
|
evasively (Avoids giving clear information rather than being open.)
Themes
communication
|ethics
|social_life
Definition
in an honest, simple way, without tricks
In a straightforward, honest way, without trying to deceive or create a false impression.
Grammar
Dictionary form
ingenuously
IPA
GB/ɪŋənˈusli/
US/ɪŋənˈusli/
Syllables & stress
in - genu - ously (3 syllables)
Stress on 3rd syllable (ously)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: ingenuously
- Plural: ingenuouslies
Word family
Forms
ingenuouslies
noun
Core family
ingenuous
adjective C1
ingenuousness
noun
Negative and opposite forms
disingenuous
adjective
disingenuously
adverb
disingenuousness
noun
Expressions
ingenuously enough
1/ɪŋənˈusli ɪnˈʌf/
fixed phrase
formal
surprisingly, in innocent honesty
used to say someone spoke with innocent honesty
Examples
- Ingenuously enough, he asked whether the rules applied to him too.
- She said, ingenuously enough, that she hadn’t read the report at all.
- Ingenuously enough, they assumed the fees would be refunded automatically.