1
as in unfamiliarity
the state of being unaware or uninformed
ignorance of the law is no excuse
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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
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Recent Examples of ignorance
All the knowledge—or ignorance—that a viewer brings to a movie, whatever knowledge a viewer gains about the making and the makers, is an inextricable part of the viewing experience.
—
Richard Brody, New Yorker, 6 Feb. 2026
While undoubtedly xenophobic in nature, these questions highlight their acute ignorance about the place that birthed Bad Bunny, and its ongoing entanglement with the United States.
—Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2026
Apparent also is the government’s ignorance of an American historical document called the Declaration of Independence.
—A.o. Scott, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2026
Sometimes ignorance is a wonderful thing.
—David Morgan, CBS News, 2 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ignorance
Richard Brody, New Yorker, 6 Feb. 2026
While undoubtedly xenophobic in nature, these questions highlight their acute ignorance about the place that birthed Bad Bunny, and its ongoing entanglement with the United States.
—Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2026
Apparent also is the government’s ignorance of an American historical document called the Declaration of Independence.
—A.o. Scott, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2026
Sometimes ignorance is a wonderful thing.
—David Morgan, CBS News, 2 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ignorance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ignorance
Noun
-
Asked about Zhang at a regular briefing of reporters in Beijing, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson cited unfamiliarity with the matter.—
Janis Mackey Frayer,
NBC news,
26 Jan. 2026
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But there’s also a bit of unfamiliarity, as Peterson said he’s never dealt with cramping that has lingered this long before.—
Shreyas Laddha,
Kansas City Star,
14 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The correlation between illiteracy and incarceration has been known for a long time.—
David Owen,
New Yorker,
22 Dec. 2025
-
Hirsch believes that the consequences of illiteracy are also reflected within the prison system.—
Nia Bowers,
USA Today,
13 Nov. 2025
Noun
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After decades of maintaining his innocence, Vedam’s conviction was thrown out by a judge in August after it was revealed that prosecutors had withheld potentially critical ballistics evidence during his two trials.—
Elizabeth Wolfe,
CNN Money,
17 Feb. 2026
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The Pima County Sheriff’s Department emphasized the innocence of the siblings and their spouses in a statement released Monday, pleading with the media and public to leave the beleaguered family alone.—
Timothy Nerozzi,
The Washington Examiner,
16 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Which is much worse than plain old stupidity.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Unlike its sibling concepts of dumbness and idiocy, stupidity isn’t really a personality trait.—
Jonny Thomson,
Big Think,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The initial photos or videos were ones of unawareness of what is about to go down.—
Bruce Y. Lee,
Forbes.com,
24 Jan. 2026
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At the same time, Weinberger added, the greatest treatment obstacle is patients not taking their medications — sometimes due to anosognosia, the unawareness of being ill, which affects 50% to 98% of people with schizophrenia.—
Kristen Rogers,
CNN Money,
2 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Unlike its sibling concepts of dumbness and idiocy, stupidity isn’t really a personality trait.—
Jonny Thomson,
Big Think,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Compare that to punk rock, which used dumbness as a tactic.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Aug. 2025
Noun
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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
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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
Noun
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Was her decision to push forward with a severe knee injury a calculated risk or stubborn foolishness?—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Navarro devoted a chapter to the seductive foolishness of protectionist trade policies.—
Ian Parker,
New Yorker,
22 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ignorance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ignorance. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
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