Standard Lemma guide

simpleness

noun · 5 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • General-American, Received-Pronunciation: /ˈsɪm.pəl.nəs/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

noun

Meaning 1

The property of being simple.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable, usually

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: simplicity

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

lack of ornamentation

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • the room was simply decorated with great restraint

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: chasteness, restraint, simplicity

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: plainness

3

noun

Meaning 3

freedom from difficulty or hardship or effort

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • he rose through the ranks with apparent ease
  • they put it into containers for ease of transportation
  • the very easiness of the deed held her back

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: ease, easiness, simplicity

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: quality

Narrower terms: effortlessness

4

noun

Meaning 4

the quality of being simple or uncompounded

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • the simplicity of a crystal

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: simplicity

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: quality

5

noun

Meaning 5

a lack of penetration or subtlety

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • they took advantage of her simplicity

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: simplicity, simple mindedness

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: naivete, naivety, naiveness

History

Etymology

From Middle English symplenesse; equivalent to simple + -ness.