Artless
hardPositive toneART-less
adjective
Definition
free of guile or pretense; naturally simple and sincere
Memory hook
ART-less: someone with zero ART of deception, so they're refreshingly innocent and sincere.
Word roots
Learning roots unlocks whole word families. Study common GRE root words.
Examples
“Her artless reply charmed the interviewers, who were used to rehearsed answers.”
“The child's artless curiosity disarmed even the gruffest visitors.”
Test yourself
Fill in the blank with the right word:
“Her ______ reply charmed the interviewers, who were used to rehearsed answers.”
Show answer
artless
Categories
GRE Tip
Artless is a hard-difficulty GRE word. On the GRE, you might see it paired with synonyms like "guileless" or "ingenuous" in Sentence Equivalence questions. Look for contrast clues (however, despite, although) that signal the opposite meaning. Words like "cunning".
Related GRE Words
ingenuous
Innocent and unsuspecting; candid and sincere
guileless
Innocent and without deception; artless and sincere
naive
Showing a lack of experience, wisdom, or judgment
officious
intrusively eager to offer unwanted help or advice; meddlesome
boorish
rude, ill-mannered, and insensitive
compliant
inclined to agree with others or obey rules; submissive
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