IGNORANCE Synonyms: 46 Similar and Opposite Words

ignorance

noun

ˈig-n(ə-)rən(t)s

Definition of ignorance

as in unfamiliarity

the state of being unaware or uninformed ignorance of the law is no excuse

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in illiteracy

the state of being unlearned with such vast sums spent on education, the level of ignorance among graduating seniors is a national disgrace

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 ignorance Despite the claims of any number of charlatans who prey on the American brand of cuddly benighted ignorance, the universe will not manifest an alternate reality for anyone who simply wishes for it with sufficient longing. — Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 2 Oct. 2026 Instead of claiming ignorance of the song on social media, why not try a swift Google search instead. — Marissa R. Moss, Rolling Stone, 26 Sep. 2026 Hartford has a distinguished tradition of standing against ignorance by supporting public education. — Nora Oakes Howard, Hartford Courant, 16 Sep. 2026 But the fact is, ignorance doesn’t protect you from a carrier suspension or from regulators. — Phil Portman, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for ignorance

Recent Examples of Synonyms for ignorance

Noun

But Benetti, who calls Detroit Tigers games during the regular season, has embraced the unfamiliarity.

— Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 29 Sep. 2026
Casting, per Mehta, hinged on unfamiliarity rather than name recognition.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of unfamiliarity

Noun

There’s no danger of spontaneous mass illiteracy, but the complex cognitive skills that reading fosters start to degrade.

— Rose Horowitch, The Atlantic, 8 July 2026
And now creative events like the various fair demonstrations and exhibits bring the problem of illiteracy into public spaces and help remove the stigma surrounding it.

— Catharine Kaufman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 May 2026

Definition of illiteracy

Noun

Campaign finance records show Pérez — who maintains his innocence — has contributed a total of $105,000 to Salazar’s joint fundraising and leadership political committees this year, plus an additional $7,000 to her candidate committee on May 5.

— Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 23 Oct. 2026
The accompanying clip attached to 50’s post found Don Roberts back home sitting down and thanking 50, along with his friends and family, for believing in his innocence.

— Michael Saponara, Billboard, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of innocence

Noun

Learning that countless more people will lose their lives on account of his neglect, greed, and stupidity, he is pressed, reluctantly, into a most self-serving mode of damage control.

— Justin Chang, New Yorker, 30 Sep. 2026
Nerdiest song for drummers This will probably come down to stupidity.

— Devon Ivie, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of stupidity

Noun

Have hypoglycemia unawareness – an absence of warning signs for high blood sugar.

— Reed Berger-Fleishman, The Conversation, 16 Sep. 2026
Black enrollees reported the highest rate of unawareness of work requirements at 62%, compared to 56% among White enrollees and 54% among Hispanic enrollees.

— Jesse Pines, Forbes.com, 6 June 2026

Definition of unawareness

Noun

The first 10 minutes are an incredible swirl of paranoia, alcoholism, and sluggish dumbness when Gould just needs to feed his cat.

— Eric Farwell, Entertainment Weekly, 12 June 2026
Unlike its sibling concepts of dumbness and idiocy, stupidity isn’t really a personality trait.

— Jonny Thomson, Big Think, 11 Feb. 2026

Definition of dumbness

Noun

There is just enough wry humor—think Shaun of the Dead—sprinkled throughout to keep things from getting too grim, often deriving from Bryan’s cluelessness and general lack of skills.

— Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 22 Sep. 2026
As in all those movies, the leads’ total cluelessness is part of the charm.

— Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of cluelessness

Browse Nearby Words

ignoramuses

ignorance

ignorant

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Ignorance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ignorance. Accessed 26 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of ignorance

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on ignorance

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

disparate

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE

Popular

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes