1
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
2
as in unaware
not informed about or aware of something
the poor woman has been the unknowing target of some pretty vicious gossip
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unknowing
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.
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Tim Lammers,
Forbes.com,
7 Aug. 2025
The Mangusta has none, and traveling over tar strips and on certain road surfaces is enough to prompt unknowing passengers to inquire with some urgency as to the source of all that noise.
—
Car and Driver,
13 Jan. 2023
See All Example Sentences for 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
The Mangusta has none, and traveling over tar strips and on certain road surfaces is enough to prompt unknowing passengers to inquire with some urgency as to the source of all that noise.
—
Car and Driver,
13 Jan. 2023
See All Example Sentences for unknowing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unknowing
Adjective
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The cyclical reality awaiting ‘naive capital’ Allianz is far from the only insurer to have prospered through recent upheavals.
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But performing fealty to that naïve and impoverished picture of judging had become nearly de rigueur for both liberals and conservatives.
Adjective
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Many know the story of Lewis and Clark, but are unaware that the tale involved so much more than these two pioneers.
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Despite their value, research suggests that many eligible individuals remain unaware of them.
Adjective
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All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
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That law predates the much wider United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which took effect in 1994, giving ships the right of innocent passage through any country's territorial waters without paying a fee.
Adjective
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Let’s hope that George Santayana’s warning to those ignorant of history about the past repeating itself makes an exception for our present Defense Department.
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And then there are amateur collectors like me, who might not know ironstone from porcelain, but whose last day on earth could be spent touching old objects in ignorant bliss.
Adjective
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Legend has it that when an unsuspecting new man on the paper’s composing desk left out the agate type one day there were lots of problems for bettors and bookies across the city.
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The Better Business Bureau says scammers are targeting renters and unsuspecting home sellers through sophisticated online schemes that have grown a lot over the years.
Adjective
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But for another two and a half years, it’s stuck with a boss who often seems oblivious to customer concerns.
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The Street loves the latter model, the public loves the former, and is oblivious to the dichotomy.
Adjective
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As for the volunteers, the goal is simple—help someone stay safe before the heat turns into an emergency.
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Evidence for at-home tools is thinner than for professional manual drainage, but the simplest options can offer mild circulation and surface-lymph support at a low price.
Adjective
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Over the same period, entry-level head count at the high-intensity firms rose 12%, contradicting predictions and fears that young or inexperienced workers would be most at risk of losing their jobs to AI.
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Immer and Lois work with land stewards to find projects that make sense for eager but often inexperienced volunteers.
Cite this Entry
“Unknowing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unknowing. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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