In the following question, out of the four alternatives, select the word that is opposite in meaning to the given word Naive, which describes someone innocent and easily fooled.

Introduction / Context:
This item checks knowledge of antonyms for personality adjectives. The word Naive is frequently used to describe a person who is simple, inexperienced, and too ready to trust others. Competitive exams often pair Naive with words that describe cleverness, cunning, or sophistication, since these qualities move in the opposite direction. Choosing the correct antonym requires careful attention to connotation, not only dictionary definitions.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Target word: Naive.
• Options: Artful, Candid, Credulous, Sincere.
• We must find the word that most strongly expresses the opposite character trait.
• Standard meanings of these personality adjectives are assumed.

Concept / Approach:
Naive describes someone who is innocent, lacking worldly experience, and therefore easily deceived or overly trusting. An antonym should therefore suggest cleverness combined with a degree of cunning, someone who is not easily misled. Artful is a good candidate because it can mean skilful and also cleverly deceitful. On the other hand, Candid and Sincere both describe honesty and openness, which can exist in both naive and experienced people. Credulous, meaning too ready to believe, is almost a synonym of Naive, not an opposite.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Naive refers to an innocent, simple person with little worldly experience and a tendency to trust others easily. Step 2: Consider Artful, which describes someone skilful in achieving aims, often by indirect or clever means. It can also imply being crafty or sly. Step 3: Consider Candid, which means open, honest, and straightforward in expression. This deals with how someone communicates, not necessarily their level of worldly wisdom. Step 4: Consider Credulous, which is used for someone who is too willing to believe and is easily fooled. This is conceptually very close to Naive, so it cannot be an antonym. Step 5: Consider Sincere, which means genuine and free from pretence, again related to honesty but not to cleverness versus innocence. Step 6: Recognise that Artful implies shrewdness and often a capacity to deceive, which stands in strong contrast to Naive. Step 7: Conclude that Artful is the best opposite among the given options.

Verification / Alternative check:
Compare two sentences: She is naive and believes whatever people tell her and She is artful and never lets anyone take advantage of her. The first sentence paints a picture of someone innocent and easily influenced, while the second suggests a person who is clever and perhaps a little manipulative. These two character types contrast sharply. Replacing Naive with Credulous changes little in the meaning, confirming that Credulous is a near synonym, not an antonym. Candid and Sincere are more about honesty than about being easily fooled or not, so they do not function as true opposites here.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Candid is wrong because a naive person can also be candid; honesty and simplicity often go together. Credulous is wrong because it directly describes someone who believes things too easily, which is a key aspect of being naive. Sincere is wrong because it focuses on genuineness, which again can be seen in naive people rather than opposing naivety. None of these words captures the opposite idea of cleverness and strategic thinking that Artful conveys.

Common Pitfalls:
Many learners mistake Credulous as an antonym simply because the word feels complex and unfamiliar. However, context and meaning show that it reinforces the same idea as Naive. Another trap is to pick Candid or Sincere by wrongly assuming that Naive must be about dishonesty, which it is not. To avoid such errors, always convert the question into a simple description in your own words and then pick the option that reverses that description, not just a word that sounds sophisticated.

Final Answer:
The word that is opposite in meaning to Naive is Artful.