UNKNOWING Synonyms: 115 Similar and Opposite Words

unknowing

adjective

ˌən-ˈnō-iŋ

Definition of unknowing

as in naive

lacking in worldly wisdom or informed judgment those unknowing people who think that the world is a kindly place are in for a rude awakening

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in unaware

not informed about or aware of something the poor woman has been the unknowing target of some pretty vicious gossip

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 unknowing From around January to June 2022, the couple tricked unknowing subordinates into adding fake vendors to the company's system, officials said. — Dan Raby, CBS News, 19 Mar. 2026 The detective, once the exemplar of reason, drifts here into a fog of unknowing. — Literary Hub, 10 Dec. 2025 One of the strongest scenes in this episode is Maeve teaching the unknowing captive Sam how to swim. — Grace Byron, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2025 As such, when Mia brings an innocent, unknowing stranger back to her apartment and begins to torture him, Dexter— witnessing the events unfold from across the street — calls authorities and Mia is arrested. — Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for unknowing

Recent Examples of Synonyms for unknowing

Adjective

Rebecca and Verity, which stars Johnson, are also about a new, naïve lover entering the home of a bad man with a wife hidden in his house of horrors.

— Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 28 Sep. 2026
Their 16-year-old had gone from being a naive gamer to converting to an extreme vision of Islam in a matter of months – and began judging the world through that dark prism.

— Jeff Winter, CNN Money, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of naive

Adjective

Merry banqueters on the rear wall appeared unaware of the demons crawling up the side wall, as though ready to burst into the chamber itself.

— Jacqueline Ortoleva, Scientific American, 3 Oct. 2026
By then, fire had ravaged the community; the report suggests that incident commanders were unaware of the devastation.

— Terry Castleman, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of unaware

Adjective

Since then, Verity had been faking her vegetative state in order to … that part doesn’t entirely make sense, but the point is Lowen and Jeremy killed an innocent woman.

— Bethy Squires, Vulture, 5 Oct. 2026
The suspects are innocent unless proven guilty by proof beyond a reasonable doubt.

— Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 4 Oct. 2026

Definition of innocent

Adjective

Also, the incorrect assumption among those who either are ignorant of the real economic realities or just don’t care and just want to pander to their own districts.

— Dominic Patten, Deadline, 30 Sep. 2026
The old worst dressed lists could be cruel, sexist, culturally ignorant, and spectacularly misguided.

— Derek C. Blasberg, Vanity Fair, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of ignorant

Adjective

Michael Conforto dumped a full beer down the back of an unsuspecting Carson Kelly while across the room Shota Imanaga threw his head back, opened his arms and let out a yell as assistant hitting coach Juan Cabreja uncorked the champagne.

— Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 1 Oct. 2026
The film’s raunchiness might have surprised some unsuspecting viewers at Zurich Film Festival.

— Marta Balaga, Variety, 29 Sep. 2026

Definition of unsuspecting

Adjective

The $125 million production stars a nearly unrecognizable Cruise playing an oblivious oil tycoon whose drilling in Greenland dislodges an ice shelf from a glacier that’s going to cause a global disaster.

— James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 30 Sep. 2026
In the book, MacLachlan recalls being utterly dumbfounded at having been asked to do something so oblivious at best and cruel at worst.

— Rachel Brodsky, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of oblivious

Adjective

That single choice unleashes a harrowing chain of strange and terrifying events in the dead of night, turning a simple gesture of kindness into a real-life nightmare.

— Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 5 Oct. 2026
Waffles and pimento Another enduring element of Chick-fil-A is its famously simple menu.

— Amelia Lucas, CNBC, 4 Oct. 2026

Definition of simple

Adjective

Consulting has built a system that allows relatively inexperienced people to deliver the judgment clients are willing to pay for.

— Albert Mikkelsen, Forbes.com, 29 Sep. 2026
Seas will also begin to lower as the nor'easter pulls away, but inexperienced mariners and small vessels are encouraged to stay docked on Monday as rough seas and gusty winds are still likely.

— Sarah Wroblewski, CBS News, 27 Sep. 2026

Definition of inexperienced

Browse Nearby Words

unknowable

unknowing

unknowingly

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Style

“Unknowing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unknowing. Accessed 7 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of unknowing

adjective

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