UNENLIGHTENED Synonyms: 43 Similar and Opposite Words

unenlightened

adjective

Definition of unenlightened

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

Adjective

Could Kleist’s conjecture provide a key to their seeming vacancy, their resignation, their helplessness, suggesting that in their benighted condition lies spiritual perfection?

— Matthew McLean, Artforum, 22 Sep. 2026
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

Definition of benighted

Adjective

With just six 30-minute episodes per season (by design), some of these idiotic run-on stories inevitably hit the cutting room floor.

— Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2026
To Tommy, Anna and Molly are twittering encumbrances, idiotic in their insistence on good works and the good of man, their endless remorseful hedgings about the Communist Party.

— Cynthia Zarin, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of idiotic

Adjective

The Debbie and Thom switch-up Ellis often alludes that Thom (Campbell) is unintelligent in the novel, with Bret telling readers that his best friend isn’t picking up on clues that his girlfriend, Susan, and Robert are romantically involved.

— Entertainment Weekly, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Aug. 2026
The contest is not between an intelligent country and an unintelligent one.

— John Sviokla, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026

Definition of unintelligent

Adjective

Ira, in my very uneducated opinion, there are eight teams in the East that could finish first, and any of those eight could be eighth.

— Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 24 Sep. 2026
As a peripheral community grows around them, this lawless terrain is suddenly subject to boundaries and contracts and taxes; both uneducated and illiterate, Isak and Inger are ill prepared for such societal evolution.

— Guy Lodge, Variety, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of uneducated

Adjective

The old worst dressed lists could be cruel, sexist, culturally ignorant, and spectacularly misguided.

— Derek C. Blasberg, Vanity Fair, 27 Aug. 2026
Mamdani’s ignorant opinion illustrates Kissinger’s concern, relying on emotional display rather than the facts.

— Daniel Kolkey, Oc Register, 16 Aug. 2026

Definition of ignorant

Adjective

Making this film was about bringing my friends together in the middle of that vast, moronic darkness in order to concentrate on images and words that could still mean something to us.

— Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 21 Sep. 2026
Because being fooled once is a shame; being fooled twice — that’s moronic.

— Mirjam Swanson, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of moronic

Adjective

Here, in this image of an ingenious skidding kitten—in both its brutality and its beautiful, dumb, playful resilience—lies the wisdom of Marcon’s art.

— Matthew McLean, Artforum, 22 Sep. 2026
Combined with a brutal noon start time that provided no shade or relief throughout the game, the conditions meant there weren’t many fans brave enough, or quite frankly dumb enough, to endure a heat index of roughly 105 degrees.

— Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of dumb

Browse Nearby Words

unendurable

unenlightened

unenlightening

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Unenlightened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unenlightened. Accessed 28 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of unenlightened

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

fungible

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

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

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes