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Synonym Chooser

How is the word ignorant distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of ignorant are illiterate, unlearned, unlettered, and untutored. While all these words mean "not having knowledge," ignorant may imply a general condition or it may apply to lack of knowledge or awareness of a particular thing.

an ignorant fool
ignorant of nuclear physics

When could illiterate be used to replace ignorant?

Although the words illiterate and ignorant have much in common, illiterate applies to either an absolute or a relative inability to read and write.

much of the population is still illiterate

When can unlearned be used instead of ignorant?

While the synonyms unlearned and ignorant are close in meaning, unlearned suggests ignorance of advanced subjects.

poetry not for academics but for the unlearned masses

In what contexts can unlettered take the place of ignorant?

The meanings of unlettered and ignorant largely overlap; however, unlettered implies ignorance of the knowledge gained by reading.

an allusion meaningless to the unlettered

Where would untutored be a reasonable alternative to ignorant?

The words untutored and ignorant can be used in similar contexts, but untutored may imply lack of schooling in the arts and ways of civilization.

strange monuments built by an untutored people

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 ignorant Conversations that would’ve otherwise been fun and intellectually stimulating will start to feel childish and ignorant. Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025 Any suggestion that this is some kind of victory for Combs is ignorant. Kimi Robinson, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2025 In this case, the problem is ethics in the medical profession, as young doctor Andrew Manson (Robert Donat) moves from idealism to disillusionment and back again when faced with ignorant patients who are skeptical of his conclusions, economic hardship, and crooked colleagues. Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 25 Aug. 2025 Eager to learn, no question, but ignorant nonetheless. Jack Albright, jsonline.com, 22 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for ignorant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ignorant
Adjective
  • This Court finds that Respondent’s lack of candor on his I-485 was not an oversight by an uninformed, uneducated applicant.
    Filip Timotija, The Hill, 18 Sep. 2025
  • As Plato once described, Socrates taught an uneducated boy how to double the area of a square.
    Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 17 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The campaign also claimed that Barrien was unaware that Lee is nonbinary.
    Samantha Riedel, Them., 29 Sep. 2025
  • The players were initially unaware that person would be Nuno Espirito Santo.
    Roshane Thomas, New York Times, 28 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Attendees can also expect kid-friendly activities, including hair braiding, glow-in-the-dark face painting, accessory booths, photo booths, and giant inflatable mascots on the dance floor.
    Charlie Vargas, Oc Register, 30 Sep. 2025
  • Atop her dress, Carey opted for a long-sleeve dark leather jacket with a cropped design and edgy zipper closure.
    Julia Teti, Footwear News, 30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Told by a mate that just such a brawl is brewing, Jacob (Will Harrison, excellent) goes flying toward an oblivious bystander, fist first, knocking the unsuspecting victim to the ground.
    Greg Evans, Deadline, 29 Sep. 2025
  • Pixels are flying from shelves as users embrace the AI generation, still oblivious to most of the privacy compromises implied in over-sharing with AI assistants operating in corporate data centers.
    Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • But their pitchers exploited enough batters on an inexperienced team that is now two losses from 100 for the season, and the Padres held on for a 3-2 victory over the White Sox on Sunday.
    Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Sep. 2025
  • Founders are often too eager to scale, or too inexperienced to evaluate talent, and the financial hit isn’t felt immediately.
    Anuradha Gupta, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Assembly Bill 325 is economically illiterate nonsense that attempts to ban the use of pricing algorithms that help businesses determine prices.
    The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 29 Sep. 2025
  • Because most people back in Roman times were illiterate and totally disconnected from the news of the World.
    Nikki McCann Ramirez, Rolling Stone, 22 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • 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
  • With hundreds of years of patient work behind it, with some educational institutions willing to protect their scientists, and with researchers hard at work in less-benighted nations, the human desire to know and to understand will continue to produce results.
    Bill McKibben, New Yorker, 3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • No untutored voice, nor even sound of rushing car disturbed the seemingly sacred stillness of the hour.
    Erin Alberty, Axios, 14 Apr. 2025
  • His savage, untutored mind suggested no better way than that of wreaking vengeance upon those who had wronged him.
    Liz Tracey, JSTOR Daily, 21 Feb. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Ignorant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ignorant. Accessed 4 Oct. 2025.

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