unenlightened

adjective

Definition of unenlightenednext
as in benighted

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

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 unenlightened Instead of transitioning these communities into new industries or providing them with the tools to adapt, our legislators have chosen to obscure coal and its workers, treating them as relics of a bygone, unenlightened and even primitive era. — Daniel A.c. McBride, Baltimore Sun, 1 June 2025 Dirty work is often assumed to be unenlightened work, but wildland firefighters have a unique empirical understanding of natural forces. — M. R. O’Connor, The New Yorker, 27 Jan. 2025 Some are downright funky in their retro prejudices, others more quaintly unenlightened. — Lauren Bravo, refinery29.com, 3 Jan. 2024 Wilson, therefore, was not introducing the ideas of world order and human rights to a collection of previously anarchic states and unenlightened polities. — Walter Russell Mead, Foreign Affairs, 8 Dec. 2020 See All Example Sentences for unenlightened
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unenlightened
  1. benighted
  2. idiotic
  3. unintelligent
  4. uneducated
  5. ignorant
  6. moronic
  7. dumb
Adjective
  • But this time there would be no panel from the National Endowment of the Arts sifting through the applications, no oversight from cultural officials and benighted curators—the usual process.
    — Nate Freeman, Vanity Fair, 8 May 2026
  • Repeal the benighted Jones Act, which raises energy and shipping costs.
    — Editorial, Boston Herald, 30 Mar. 2026
Definition of benighted
Adjective
  • Butlers are kicked in the shins and told their children are ugly; a patriarch’s idiotic military decisions are venerated for their spirit; blood spilling out of a servant’s wound is more an issue for the rug.
    — Diana Arterian, Literary Hub, 16 July 2026
  • That’s been an idiotic trope for too long — that participating in the business side of it taints you.
    — Marc Weingarten, Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2026
Definition of idiotic
Adjective
  • The contest is not between an intelligent country and an unintelligent one.
    — John Sviokla, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
  • More and more people are avoiding dating or befriending those with opposing political views, and growing numbers describe those on the other side as closed-minded, dishonest, immoral and unintelligent.
    — Justin Callais, Twin Cities, 5 Mar. 2026
Definition of unintelligent
Adjective
  • The report says there's been progress, but minorities, along with people who are poor and uneducated, still face higher death rates.
    — Stephanie Stahl, CBS News, 24 June 2026
  • The hillbilly is portrayed as ignorant, uneducated, and unsophisticated; they are often depicted as being unkempt in appearance, perhaps noticeably dirty or walking around barefoot.
    — Jordana Rosenfeld, Encyclopedia Britannica, 12 June 2026
Definition of uneducated
Adjective
  • Careers made and ruined, departments torn apart, writing programs turned into sensitivity seminars, political witch hunts, public opprobrium, ignorant media attacks, the whole ball of wax.
    — Emily Eakin, Harpers Magazine, 28 July 2026
  • Any advice on how to tune out ignorant neighbors who refuse to shut up?
    — R. Eric Thomas, Mercury News, 15 July 2026
Definition of ignorant
Adjective
  • And before the perpetually whiny and moronic peanut gallery says that sports teams have special nights all the time, that’s true, but celebrating heritage, or veterans who fought and died for this country is just an eency weency bit different than force-feeding the gay agenda at a ball game!
    — Tomi Lahren OutKick, FOXNews.com, 17 June 2026
  • Garrincha was characterised as childish and moronic in psychological tests commissioned by the Brazilian federation before that tournament in Sweden and was then left out of their first two games.
    — Jack Lang, New York Times, 28 May 2026
Definition of moronic
Adjective
  • Some 17-year-olds are awkward, gangly teens who tend to do or say dumb things.
    — Caleb Otte, Los Angeles Times, 25 July 2026
  • Vance appears to be performing a smart person’s idea of a dumb person.
    — David A. Graham, The Atlantic, 21 July 2026
Definition of dumb

Browse Nearby Words

unendurable
unenlightened
unenlightening
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Unenlightened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unenlightened. Accessed 2 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

Your vs. You're: How to Use Them Correctly
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

The Words of the Week - Jul. 31

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
asap street sign
Figure Out These Acronyms ASAP You don't have to be a NASA engineer to get these...
See All