ingenue

[an-zhuh-noo, -nyoo, an-zhey-ny] / ˈæn ʒəˌnu, -ˌnyu, ɛ̃ ʒeɪˈnü /

NOUN

innocent

Synonyms

STRONGEST

babe ingénue

STRONG

child dupe greenhorn gull stooge sucker victim

WEAK

babe in the woods easy mark gullible person naif naive naïve simple soul trusting soul

ingénue

NOUN

actor

Synonyms

STRONGEST

artist character clown comedian entertainer performer player star villain

STRONG

amateur barnstormer extra foil ham headliner idol impersonator lead mime mimic pantomimist playactor soubrette stand-in stooge thespian trouper understudy ventriloquist walk-on

WEAK

bit player hambone ingenue straight person thesp

Antonyms

WEAK

audience fan

NOUN

greenhorn

Synonyms

STRONG

amateur apprentice babe beginner colt hayseed learner naif neophyte newcomer novice recruit rube simpleton tenderfoot tyro virgin

WEAK

ingenue new hand

Antonyms

STRONG

expert professional

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Rachel is taken with Gustav’s films, and the director sees a familiar spark of brilliance in the young ingenue.

From Salon

When I was younger, I got to play the ingenue, the object of desire.

From The Wall Street Journal

But her school had a traditionally beautiful ingenue who landed the leads.

From Los Angeles Times

His nose twitches are as dramatic as an ingenue’s gasp.

From Los Angeles Times

Pickett explains: "I wasn't really interested in her being an ingénue."

From BBC