as in ignorant
lacking in education or the knowledge gained from books
an organization helping nonliterate adults improve their reading skills
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Recent Examples of nonliterate
Such a practice would have been especially useful in nonliterate societies where knowledge was transmitted orally.
—
Amanda Fortini, New York Times, 12 Nov. 2020
Amanda Fortini, New York Times, 12 Nov. 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nonliterate
ignorant
Adjective
-
On its face, the government's defense appears to be that the individuals behind these statements are ignorant or incompetent, or both.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
2 Dec. 2025
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The citizens of Oz are treated as no more than an undifferentiated crowd of extras, an ignorant and finally disposable monolith.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
20 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Nonliterate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nonliterate. Accessed 15 Jan. 2026.
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