guileless

/ˈɡaɪlləs/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈɡaɪlləs/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈgī(-ə)l-ləs/ (ame, mw)

guileless — adjective

  • guilelesspositive
  • more guilelesscomparative
  • most guilelesssuperlative

1. behaving in a simple, open way that shows you are too honest to lie or trick any

1.形容詞C2
釋義

behaving in a simple, open way that shows you are too honest to lie or trick anyone, and too trusting to expect others to lie or trick you.

例句

Talia's guileless smile won over the children at the new daycare on her first morning.

attributive: guileless + noun (smile, look, face)

Old Mr. Putri was so guileless that he believed every promise the salesman made about the roof repairs.

predicative: be + so + guileless + that-clause showing the result

同義詞
  • ingenuous

    very close in meaning; both formal, suggesting innocent openness without any wish to deceive.

  • naive

    wider scope; focuses on lack of experience rather than honesty, and can sound mildly critical.

  • artless

    literary; stresses the absence of any clever or planned manner.

  • candid

    everyday word; focuses on speaking openly, not on the trusting innocence guileless adds.

反義詞
  • cunning

    the opposite end: clever at planning tricks to get what one wants.

  • deceitful

    actively lying or misleading others, the exact behaviour guileless rules out.

  • sly

    secretive and dishonest in small, everyday ways.

用法筆記

Almost always describes a person, or a noun closely tied to a person (smile, look, eyes, answer, manner). Carries a warm, slightly old-fashioned tone — often suggesting the subject's openness is charming but also leaves them at risk of being tricked.

常見錯誤

❌The contract was guileless and easy to read.
✅The contract was straightforward and easy to read.
💡guileless describes a person's character or expression, not a document or rule.
❌He gave a guileless lie.
✅He gave a clumsy lie.
💡guileless means someone is too honest to lie at all; a lie itself cannot be guileless.