as in ignorant
lacking in education or the knowledge gained from books
the poor benighted souls who do not know the joys of reading
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
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
-
To dismiss animism as ignorant, superstitious, or atavistic is to partake in modern parochialism, and this serves the interests of those who, like the tree’s killers, delight in destroying life.—
Colin Cepuran,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Feb. 2026
-
Still, Amodei warns, many people remain ignorant about the reality of AI’s revolutionary capabilities.—
Jake Angelo,
Fortune,
24 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Benighted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/benighted. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
