as in ignorance
the state of being unaware or uninformed
the utter cluelessness of the parents astounded the police who raided the underage drinking party
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Recent Examples of cluelessness
Neeson also uses his size and his vigilante-movie reputation to incredible effect, adapting more of a bull-in-a-china-shop energy than Leslie Nielsen’s previous cluelessness.
—
Joe Reid, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2025
With the exception of Howle’s fictional Thomas, the Brits, based on real-life figures, are represented here with an assortment of pomp, cluelessness, arrogance and cruelty, all of it smartly played and never cartoonish.
—Sheri Linden, HollywoodReporter, 26 Nov. 2025
In satirizing some women’s impressions of their male partners’ cluelessness as a high-stakes matter, SNL subtly commented on these fraught domestic dynamics.
—Paula Mejía, The Atlantic, 2 Nov. 2025
LeBlanc made Joey Tribbiani unforgettable — combining goofy charm, endless antics and a lovable cluelessness that kept fans laughing for 10 seasons.
—Samantha Stutsman, PEOPLE, 22 Sep. 2025
Joe Reid, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2025
With the exception of Howle’s fictional Thomas, the Brits, based on real-life figures, are represented here with an assortment of pomp, cluelessness, arrogance and cruelty, all of it smartly played and never cartoonish.
—Sheri Linden, HollywoodReporter, 26 Nov. 2025
In satirizing some women’s impressions of their male partners’ cluelessness as a high-stakes matter, SNL subtly commented on these fraught domestic dynamics.
—Paula Mejía, The Atlantic, 2 Nov. 2025
LeBlanc made Joey Tribbiani unforgettable — combining goofy charm, endless antics and a lovable cluelessness that kept fans laughing for 10 seasons.
—Samantha Stutsman, PEOPLE, 22 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cluelessness
ignorance
Noun
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This shocking ignorance and insensitivity by Ocasio-Cortez should rule her out of any potential presidential bid or other high office.—
Benjamin Weinthal,
FOXNews.com,
14 Feb. 2026
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There are still many in this country who value truth, who believe that history should be preserved and not erased, who understand that constitutional rights should not be swept away to suit the whims of a megalomaniac, and who refuse to wallow in ignorance and hate.—
DP Opinion,
Denver Post,
11 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cluelessness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cluelessness. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
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