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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 unfamiliarity
Asked about Zhang at a regular briefing of reporters in Beijing, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson cited unfamiliarity with the matter.
—
Janis MacKey Frayer, NBC news, 26 Jan. 2026
But there’s also a bit of unfamiliarity, as Peterson said he’s never dealt with cramping that has lingered this long before.
—Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 14 Jan. 2026
The challenge is not only unfamiliarity.
—Kristin Olson, Fortune, 19 Dec. 2025
Meanwhile, public acceptance remains limited, held back by unfamiliarity and lingering safety concerns.
—Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 3 Dec. 2025
To anticipate improving upon an already-staggering performance metric by nearly 20% is to acknowledge an unfamiliarity with how math works.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 26 Nov. 2025
Maheu says that, of course, some people have also had broader issues with their decision to coparent as a group — some of it borne from unfamiliarity.
—David Chiu, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025
Most of them declined to comment on Platner’s past, expressing unfamiliarity with the details of what’s become one of the hottest political stories in the country.
—David Weigel, semafor.com, 21 Oct. 2025
These players may be more susceptible to injury due to limited experience, unfamiliarity with the game or lower level of physical fitness, the study noted.
—Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Oct. 2025
Janis MacKey Frayer, NBC news, 26 Jan. 2026
But there’s also a bit of unfamiliarity, as Peterson said he’s never dealt with cramping that has lingered this long before.
—Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 14 Jan. 2026
The challenge is not only unfamiliarity.
—Kristin Olson, Fortune, 19 Dec. 2025
Meanwhile, public acceptance remains limited, held back by unfamiliarity and lingering safety concerns.
—Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 3 Dec. 2025
To anticipate improving upon an already-staggering performance metric by nearly 20% is to acknowledge an unfamiliarity with how math works.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 26 Nov. 2025
Maheu says that, of course, some people have also had broader issues with their decision to coparent as a group — some of it borne from unfamiliarity.
—David Chiu, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025
Most of them declined to comment on Platner’s past, expressing unfamiliarity with the details of what’s become one of the hottest political stories in the country.
—David Weigel, semafor.com, 21 Oct. 2025
These players may be more susceptible to injury due to limited experience, unfamiliarity with the game or lower level of physical fitness, the study noted.
—Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unfamiliarity
ignorance
Noun
-
Fifty years of neglect and ignorance has led us to this day when 4,500 homeless individuals are roaming our streets and subways.—
Lucius Riccio,
New York Daily News,
1 Feb. 2026
-
According to Tuff, what causes leaders to miss these paradigm shifts is not ignorance but hesitation.—
Connie Etemadi,
USA Today,
29 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unfamiliarity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unfamiliarity. Accessed 5 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
