ingenuously
gb/ɪŋənˈusli/ us/ɪŋənˈusli/
C1
English
Senses
0 senses
adverb
C1
property
1
naively, with innocent trust
in a way that is innocent and a little naive
Usage pattern:
[someone] [verb] ingenuously (that [clause])
Common mistake:
Do not confuse with ingeniously (= cleverly, inventively). Ingenuously is about innocence or guilelessness, not cleverness.
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.)
Collocations
ingenuously asked
|ingenuously assume
|ingenuously believed
|ingenuously trust
|ingenuously optimistic
|ingenuously naive
|ingenuously unaware
|ingenuously expect
|ingenuously suppose
|ingenuously accept
Themes
emotions
|communication
|social_life
Examples
- He ingenuously assumed everyone would keep their promises.
- She smiled ingenuously, unaware of how the comment might sound.
- I ingenuously believed the first explanation I was given.
Learner examples
- I ingenuously trusted him.
- She ingenuously thought it would be easy.
adverb
formal
C1
property
2
openly and sincerely, without guile
in an honest, simple way, without tricks
Usage pattern:
[someone] [verb] ingenuously (about [something])
Common mistake:
Learners may choose 'ingenuously' when they mean 'ingeniously' (cleverly). Use ingenuously for honest openness, not clever methods.
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.)
Collocations
ingenuously admitted
|ingenuously confessed
|ingenuously explained
|ingenuously replied
|ingenuously described
|ingenuously stated
|ingenuously offered
|ingenuously insisted
|ingenuously acknowledged
|ingenuously apologized
Themes
communication
|ethics
|social_life
Examples
- He ingenuously admitted that he didn’t understand the instructions.
- She ingenuously described what happened, without trying to make herself look better.
- The CEO spoke ingenuously about the company’s mistakes.
Learner examples
- He answered ingenuously.
- She spoke ingenuously about her feelings.
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.