as in ignorant
lacking in education or the knowledge gained from books
the poor benighted souls who do not know the joys of reading
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Recent Examples of benighted
With the midterm election still nearly a year off — and the 2028 presidential contest eons away — many of those angry or despondent over the benighted state of our union desperately wanted to do something to push back.
—
Mark Z. Barabak, Mercury News, 8 Nov. 2025
In particular, a conviction that the Internet and free trade would attract benighted countries toward liberal democratic capitalism became commonplace.
—Benn Steil, Foreign Affairs, 3 Oct. 2025
One Battle After Another is the rare American film released in these benighted times of ours — with the backing of a major studio, no less — to be clear and insistent in the target of its anger, its despair and its prescriptions for what might make things better.
—Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 17 Sep. 2025
Like the original Outlander, Blood of My Blood is believably frank about the possibility of assault in the benighted past.
—Graham Hillard, The Washington Examiner, 22 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for benighted
Mark Z. Barabak, Mercury News, 8 Nov. 2025
In particular, a conviction that the Internet and free trade would attract benighted countries toward liberal democratic capitalism became commonplace.
—Benn Steil, Foreign Affairs, 3 Oct. 2025
One Battle After Another is the rare American film released in these benighted times of ours — with the backing of a major studio, no less — to be clear and insistent in the target of its anger, its despair and its prescriptions for what might make things better.
—Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 17 Sep. 2025
Like the original Outlander, Blood of My Blood is believably frank about the possibility of assault in the benighted past.
—Graham Hillard, The Washington Examiner, 22 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for benighted
Recent Examples of Synonyms for benighted
ignorant
Adjective
-
Trump is either too ignorant or mentally challenged — and dangerous — to continue as president.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Excluding industry from the room doesn’t make for ‘independent’ policy but sets the table for ignorant policy.—
Morgan Chalfant,
semafor.com,
10 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Benighted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/benighted. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.
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