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
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
Now axe-wielding and neck-snapping murderers, the duo have launched into a flesh-seeking rampage, honey-bent on killing not just their former human friend but descending on four unknowing college students staying at home in the woods.
—Abbey White, The Hollywood Reporter, 31 Aug. 2022
See All Example Sentences for unknowing
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
Now axe-wielding and neck-snapping murderers, the duo have launched into a flesh-seeking rampage, honey-bent on killing not just their former human friend but descending on four unknowing college students staying at home in the woods.
—Abbey White, The Hollywood Reporter, 31 Aug. 2022
See All Example Sentences for unknowing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unknowing
Adjective
-
What became their sound, more so than instrumentation, was this naive form of optimism.—
Jazz Tangcay,
Variety,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Any certainty—my certainty—about most guys being good guys seems naive.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Opposition politicians expressed disbelief that Starmer could have been unaware Mandelson had failed security vetting.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Powell was unaware in the fall of 1975 that Wilkins had been invited to join the Pacific Coast Club by team director Tom Jennings, Wilkins said.—
Scott M. Reid,
Oc Register,
17 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Of all of the arguments against the death penalty, the strongest is that even one conviction of an innocent person is both irreversible and ethically untenable.—
Chris Jones,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Apr. 2026
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Of course, the criminal justice system has checks that should prevent innocent people from being convicted of crimes, but that doesn’t mean a prosecutor willing to eschew ethics and norms can’t make someone’s life miserable.—
Barbara McQuade,
Twin Cities,
16 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Excluding industry from the room doesn’t make for ‘independent’ policy but sets the table for ignorant policy.—
Morgan Chalfant,
semafor.com,
10 Apr. 2026
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Being ignorant but rational, the proto-citizens will necessarily settle on what Rawls called the Two Principles of Justice.—
George G. Szpiro,
Big Think,
9 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Ultimately, the scammers appear to use their initial contractor targets as unsuspecting mules for the malware payload.—
Jessica Klein,
PC Magazine,
11 Apr. 2026
-
The series chronicles the exploits of Kuashal Niroula and Danny Garcia as they are roped into an impressive group of eccentric, like-minded con artists to form the ‘gay grifters’ swindling a bevy of unsuspecting victims out of millions in cash and property over a decade plus.—
Kate Aurthur,
Variety,
10 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Aasif Mandvi and Christopher Fitzgerald barely register as Jane and Julia’s oblivious husbands, while Consuelos, who plays Maurice as a suave cuckolder with a dodgy European accent, should probably stick to daytime TV.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
20 Apr. 2026
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Then, 15 meters later, a clueless cameraman stepped onto lane 1 from the infield, oblivious to the approaching pack.—
Scott M. Reid,
Oc Register,
19 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Both include full integration of the climate controls into the screen, requiring more concentration to use and additional steps to make adjustments previously accomplished by pressing a simple button.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 Apr. 2026
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Scientists at Florida International University are developing a drug compound known as CTS2444-32, designed to reach deep brain regions affected by Parkinson's through a simple nasal delivery system.—
Ted Scouten,
CBS News,
15 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The Blackhawks understood that handing their defense to a group of young, inexperienced players would be a challenge after the trade deadline.—
Scott Powers,
New York Times,
15 Apr. 2026
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As New York Magazine reported last month, shifts are also crushingly long, the vast majority of managers are young and inexperienced, and contracts often end abruptly without any prior warning.—
Victor Tangermann,
Futurism,
15 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unknowing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unknowing. Accessed 21 Apr. 2026.
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