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
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
Trump has talked up the idea of moving the Palestinians out of Gaza, even suggesting transforming one of the most benighted places on earth into some kind of coastal resort.
—Niall Stanage, The Hill, 3 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for benighted
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
Trump has talked up the idea of moving the Palestinians out of Gaza, even suggesting transforming one of the most benighted places on earth into some kind of coastal resort.
—Niall Stanage, The Hill, 3 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for benighted
Recent Examples of Synonyms for benighted
ignorant
Adjective
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Across Southern California, e-bike popularity has soared, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic — with a disportionate number of young riders ignorant or ignoring the rules of the road, authorities say, leading to crashes and in some cases fatalities.—
Nathaniel Percy,
Oc Register,
20 Mar. 2026
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Having access to knowledge and being able to collectively reflect are rights too precious to surrender to those who prefer us ignorant.—
Megan Thiele Strong,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Benighted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/benighted. Accessed 25 Mar. 2026.
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