Ingenuous and Strained

Opposite meaning words

Ingenuous adjective - Free from any intent to deceive or impress others.

Usage example: photographs that capture the ingenuous smiles of young children at play

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Strained is an antonym for ingenuous.

Strained adjective - Lacking in natural or spontaneous quality.

Usage example: I took the complaint manager's strained smile to mean I wasn't a welcome sight

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Ingenuous is an antonym for strained.

Nearby Words: strain, straining, strainer

Cite this Source

Strained and Ingenuous. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 14, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/ingenuous/strained

Ingenuous & Strained. N.p., 2016. Web. 14 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/ingenuous/strained>.

Strained or Ingenuous. 2016. Accessed August 14, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/ingenuous/strained.

Google Ngram Viewer shows how "ingenuous" and "strained" have occurred on timeline