artless

UK: /ˈɑː^rtləs/ US: /ˈɑrtlɪs/ ,(ärt′lis)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

art•less /ˈɑrtlɪs/   adj. 

1. free from tricks, cunning, or craftiness;
   honest:
   an artless manner.
2. not artificial;
   natural;
   simple:
   artless beauty.

art•less•ly, adv. 
art•less•ness, n. [uncountable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

art•less  (ärt′lis), adj. 

1. free from deceit, cunning, or craftiness;
   ingenuous:
   an artless child.
2. not artificial;
   natural;
   simple;
   uncontrived:
   artless beauty; artless charm.
3. lacking art, knowledge, or skill.
4. poorly made;
   inartistic;
   clumsy;
   crude:
   an artless translation.

• art¹ + -less 1580–90

art′less•ly, adv. 
art′less•ness, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. . naive, unsophisticated, guileless, open, frank, plain, unaffected, candid, sincere.

Antonyms

• 1. . cunning.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

artless / ˈɑːtlɪs/ adjective

1. free from deceit, guile, or artfulness; ingenuous: an artless remark
2. natural, without artifice; unpretentious: artless elegance
3. without art or skill

ˈartlessly adverb