Synonyms of literate

literate

adjective

ˈli-tə-rət 

as in educated

having or displaying advanced knowledge or education

the columnist's witty and literate comments on current events make her a popular guest on political talk shows

Synonyms & Similar Words

• educated
• scholarly
• civilized
• cultured
• skilled
• knowledgeable
• erudite
• well-read
• learned
• informed
• lettered
• instructed
• academic
• cultivated
• intellectual
• cerebral
• polished
• highbrow
• schooled
• enlightened
• didactic
• well-bred
• bookish
• trained
• professorial
• pedantic
• versed
• didactical
• briefed
• self-educated
• overeducated
• refined
• highbrowed
• self-taught
• homeschooled
• inkhorn
• polymath
• self-instructed
• polyhistoric

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• illiterate
• ignorant
• uneducated
• unlettered
• unlearned
• dark
• benighted
• uncivilized
• uncultured
• uncultivated
• unscholarly
• semiliterate
• unintellectual
• lowbrow
• uninformed
• unpolished
• unrefined
• untutored
• unschooled
• unknowledgeable
• untaught
• uninstructed
• undereducated
• ill-bred

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of literate

The incomparably salty and character-rich cast of Martin McDonagh’s Wild Horse Nine swept into Venice via water taxi Thursday to introduce the Oscar winner’s latest darkly literate comedy-drama. — Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2026

For a long time, the book’s iconic cover—a stark image evoking Trayvon Martin’s hoodie against a white backdrop—seemed to be on every other literate person’s nightstand. — Charles Finch, The Atlantic, 28 Aug. 2026

And for anyone who would rather opt out of all this entirely, Philip Johnson’s first residential commission is being restored in Bedford and will soon be looking for a very architecturally literate new owner! — Nora Deligter, Curbed, 28 Aug. 2026

His most acute scorn was reserved for my then-colleague, Alan Abelson, the longtime lead columnist and former Barron’s editor known for his florid, literate and persistent bearishness. — Michael Santoli, CNBC, 24 Aug. 2026