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 Trump’s claim that the supply of Venezuelan oil will bring gas prices down is a macedoine of aspiration and ignorance. — Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026 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 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

At a time when public debt as a share of GDP has risen to its highest level since the pandemic, Lula cited his achievements in lowering poverty rates, as well as reducing unemployment, illiteracy, and deforestation to record lows.

— Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 26 Oct. 2026
There’s a dumb ending, involving the Bewitched theme and Dennis Rodman discussing the perils of adult illiteracy (sure), but everything before that is pretty fun, including the Bumblebee Man turning into a bumblebee and Lisa into Albert Einstein.

— Joshua Kurp, Vulture, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of illiteracy

Noun

Davis, who was acquitted at his four-month capital murder trial and professed his innocence ever since, died Friday at his home in Colleyville, a stepson, Trey Davis, said on Sunday.

— Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Nov. 2026
According to the nonpartisan Death Penalty Information Center, at least 203 people on death row across 30 states have been exonerated based on evidence of innocence since 1973.

— Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 6 Nov. 2026

Definition of innocence

Noun

The power delivery remains impressively smooth, but there is a lot more of it, and the speed builds with the effortless stupidity electric motors are so good at delivering.

— Kevin Fanady, New Atlas, 6 Nov. 2026
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

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

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“Ignorance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ignorance. Accessed 10 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of ignorance

noun

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