What do you call someone who acts innocent but isn't?

Asked by: Earline Connelly III  |  Last update: March 25, 2026
Score: 4.4/5 (26 votes)

Someone who acts innocent but isn't can be called a faux-naif, a manipulator, a sham, or a wolf in sheep's clothing, describing a person who uses a false appearance of innocence or simplicity to deceive, hide their true motives, or achieve hidden agendas. Other terms include con artist, deceiver, hypocrite, or two-faced person, highlighting their insincere or deceitful nature.

What is the word for pretending to be innocent?

Use the adjective faux-naif to describe behavior that pretends to be innocent or childlike. Your sister gets away with everything, because her faux-naif act (chin trembling and eyes filling with tears) always works on your parents.

What is a word for fake innocence?

American. [foh-nah-eef] / ˈfoʊ nɑˈif /

What do you call someone who acts innocent?

harmless, naive. childlike gullible ignorant innocuous wide-eyed.

Is agathokakological a real word?

Yes, agathokakological is a real, albeit rare, English word meaning "composed of both good and evil," derived from Greek roots for "good" (agathos) and "bad" (kakos). Coined by Robert Southey in the 1830s, it's considered a "nonce word," used for special occasions, and is recognized in major dictionaries like Merriam-Webster.
 

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30 related questions found

What is pauciloquent?

pauciloquent (comparative more pauciloquent, superlative most pauciloquent) Using few words when speaking.

What is illecebrous?

Adjective. illecebrous (comparative more illecebrous, superlative most illecebrous) (formal, obsolete) Tending to attract; enticing.

What do you call someone who acts nice but isn't?

Insincere is probably the closest - describes a behaviour. Disingenuous is a very accurate adjective. Pretentious doesn't necessarily account for the fake ness. “Two faced” might be a more conversational way into it.

What's another word for countercultural?

Synonyms for "countercultural" emphasize opposition and difference, including alternative, nonconformist, underground, bohemian, antiestablishment, radical, rebellious, dissident, and avant-garde, all describing beliefs or movements that challenge mainstream societal norms, values, and practices by offering alternative systems or opposing dominant culture.
 

What is a word for childish innocence?

Synonyms for childlike innocence include naive, artless, guileless, simple, trusting, ingenuous, unsophisticated, pure, candid, and unworldly, all emphasizing a lack of worldly experience and a genuine, open nature. Key terms capture the essence of this quality, such as naiveté, purity, and wonder, highlighting an untainted goodness. 

What is childish innocence?

Children's innocence is characterised by an unfiltered view of the world, an ability to find joy in the simplest things, and a natural trust in the goodness around them. They greet strangers, sing and dance spontaneously, and express their thoughts without the overbearing self-consciousness that adults often develop.

What is another word for Fugazi?

Synonyms for fugazi (or fugazy) are words meaning fake, phony, false, bogus, counterfeit, or not genuine, often used for something that's messed up or not as good as it seems, like a sham, fraud, imitation, or rubbish; think bogus, fake, phony, sham, counterfeit, not real, rubbish, busted, or screwed up. 

What is a synonym for Delulu?

delulu. delusional; audaciously self-confident.

What is a better word for nitpick?

Better words for "nitpick" depend on the context, with strong synonyms including cavil, carp, quibble, niggle, and find fault, while more neutral or positive alternatives (for being detail-oriented) are meticulous, thorough, fastidious, or discerning, says Thesaurus.com. 

What is a slang name for a foolish person?

Slang terms for a foolish person are abundant, including doofus, numbskull, bonehead, nincompoop, dimwit, goofball, nitwit, putz, and regional terms like thicko (UK) or eejit (Irish/Scottish). Other common ones are dork, dweeb, clutz, sucker, chump, sap, and goon, often used to describe someone lacking sense or easily tricked. 

What's a fancy word for pretend?

Fancy words for pretend include feign, dissemble, simulate, affect, purport, and masquerade, depending on the context of faking an emotion (feign), hiding true feelings (dissemble/dissimulate), imitating behavior (simulate/impersonate), or presenting a false appearance (masquerade/pose). 

What do you call someone who lacks culture?

boorish coarse crass ignorant philistine rude uncivilized uncouth unlettered unpolished unrefined vulgar.

What is contraculture?

Counterculture is defined as a radical group of people who reject established social values and practices, seeking to construct an alternative social order that subverts mainstream norms.

What is the antonym of variance?

Comparing the options, "Harmony" is the word that best represents the opposite of "Variance". Variance implies difference and lack of agreement, while harmony implies agreement and concord. Difference, divergence, inconsistency, lack of agreement. Therefore, "Harmony" is the most appropriate antonym for "Variance".

What does Gen Z say instead of cool?

Gen Z uses words like "slay," "lit," "dope," "fire," "bop," and "it's giving" to mean cool, depending on the context, with slay meaning to do something well, lit for exciting, dope/fire for excellent, bop for a good song, and it's giving to describe a vibe, while no cap means "for real," and rizz is charm. 

What's a word for a go getter?

Synonyms for "go-getter" include ambitious, driven, self-starter, hustler, achiever, dynamo, powerhouse, live wire, enterpriser, and eager beaver, all describing someone energetic, proactive, and determined to achieve success or get things done, with words like high-flyer, doer, and force of nature also fitting well. 

What is the word for fake kindness?

If someone is being nice, but they're faking it, usually you say that their generosity or hospitality is insincere and you can characterize them as disingenuous.

What is a selcouth person?

Selcouth is a word meaning strange; unusual; uncommon. According to dictionary.com: Selcouth is an archaic word that appeared in English before 900. Selcouth comes from the Old English word seldcūth, which means “seldom couth.” The couth part derives from an older meaning of couth, “known or acquainted with.”

Who is lugubrious?

Someone who is lugubrious is “mournful” or “lamenting.”

What does a sloopy person mean?

Besides "out of order" or "not clean," sloppy can also mean "careless" or "overemotional." So you might do a sloppy job on an important paper for school. Or you might go to a sad movie and cry while you watch it, even though you know it's sloppy and sentimental.