as in ignorance
the state of being unaware or uninformed
some intense studying rapidly remedied my unfamiliarity with the subject in time for the exam
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Recent Examples of unfamiliarity
But that confidence may be put to a test as potential challengers included in the survey posted stronger favorability scores than Johnson — though the city residents surveyed displayed significant levels of unfamiliarity with those possible rivals.
—
Rick Pearson, Chicago Tribune, 26 Apr. 2026
Experts say North Korean troops sent to the war earlier became easy targets for drone and artillery attacks due to their lack of combat experience and unfamiliarity with the terrain.
—ABC News, 26 Apr. 2026
In between, though, the Mets showed their unfamiliarity with running the bases.
—Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 16 Apr. 2026
Others mocked the outlet’s apparent unfamiliarity with the logistics of covering Congress.
—Dominick Mastrangelo, The Hill, 15 Apr. 2026
Because of his smaller size and the coaches’ unfamiliarity with his game, Hicks was placed on the school’s second-level 15U prep team.
—Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 4 Apr. 2026
With time, any initial uneasiness and unfamiliarity on the part of our students gives way to a clearer understanding of preparedness and the confidence to act as their own first line of defense.
—Gayle Pearlstein, The Washington Examiner, 3 Apr. 2026
The unfamiliarity with the play makes it that much harder to execute.
—Los Angeles Times, 15 Mar. 2026
The inexperience and unfamiliarity of playing with one another started to become less of an issue.
—Dean Spiros, Twin Cities, 5 Mar. 2026
Rick Pearson, Chicago Tribune, 26 Apr. 2026
Experts say North Korean troops sent to the war earlier became easy targets for drone and artillery attacks due to their lack of combat experience and unfamiliarity with the terrain.
—ABC News, 26 Apr. 2026
In between, though, the Mets showed their unfamiliarity with running the bases.
—Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 16 Apr. 2026
Others mocked the outlet’s apparent unfamiliarity with the logistics of covering Congress.
—Dominick Mastrangelo, The Hill, 15 Apr. 2026
Because of his smaller size and the coaches’ unfamiliarity with his game, Hicks was placed on the school’s second-level 15U prep team.
—Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 4 Apr. 2026
With time, any initial uneasiness and unfamiliarity on the part of our students gives way to a clearer understanding of preparedness and the confidence to act as their own first line of defense.
—Gayle Pearlstein, The Washington Examiner, 3 Apr. 2026
The unfamiliarity with the play makes it that much harder to execute.
—Los Angeles Times, 15 Mar. 2026
The inexperience and unfamiliarity of playing with one another started to become less of an issue.
—Dean Spiros, Twin Cities, 5 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unfamiliarity
ignorance
Noun
-
From top to bottom, this administration embodies the perversity, ignorance and belligerence of its leader.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
21 Apr. 2026
-
This action demonstrates the president’s monumental cruelty, total lack of empathy and compassion, pathological narcissism, boundless vengefulness, abysmal ignorance and glaring immaturity.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
21 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unfamiliarity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unfamiliarity. Accessed 28 Apr. 2026.
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