1
as in unfamiliarity
the state of being unaware or uninformed
ignorance of the law is no excuse
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in illiteracy
the state of being unlearned
with such vast sums spent on education, the level of ignorance among graduating seniors is a national disgrace
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 ignorance
Sometimes ignorance is a wonderful thing.
—
David Morgan, CBS News, 2 Feb. 2026
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
That ignorance has consequences.
—Noosheen Hashemi, Time, 26 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ignorance
David Morgan, CBS News, 2 Feb. 2026
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
That ignorance has consequences.
—Noosheen Hashemi, Time, 26 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ignorance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ignorance
Noun
-
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
Noun
-
The correlation between illiteracy and incarceration has been known for a long time.—
David Owen,
New Yorker,
22 Dec. 2025
-
Hirsch believes that the consequences of illiteracy are also reflected within the prison system.—
Nia Bowers,
USA Today,
13 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
If it is believed that a person has engaged in criminal behavior, this should be handled in a court of law with the presumption of innocence until proven guilty.—
Reader Commentary,
Baltimore Sun,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Stock raised concerns about the constitutional amendment’s negative impact on the presumption of innocence, jail capacity and implementation.—
Alexandra Kukulka,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Which is much worse than plain old stupidity.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Unlike its sibling concepts of dumbness and idiocy, stupidity isn’t really a personality trait.—
Jonny Thomson,
Big Think,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The initial photos or videos were ones of unawareness of what is about to go down.—
Bruce Y. Lee,
Forbes.com,
24 Jan. 2026
-
At the same time, Weinberger added, the greatest treatment obstacle is patients not taking their medications — sometimes due to anosognosia, the unawareness of being ill, which affects 50% to 98% of people with schizophrenia.—
Kristen Rogers,
CNN Money,
2 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Unlike its sibling concepts of dumbness and idiocy, stupidity isn’t really a personality trait.—
Jonny Thomson,
Big Think,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Compare that to punk rock, which used dumbness as a tactic.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Neeson also uses his size and his vigilante-movie reputation to incredible effect, adapting more of a bull-in-a-china-shop energy than Leslie Nielsen’s previous cluelessness.—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
1 Dec. 2025
-
With the exception of Howle’s fictional Thomas, the Brits, based on real-life figures, are represented here with an assortment of pomp, cluelessness, arrogance and cruelty, all of it smartly played and never cartoonish.—
Sheri Linden,
HollywoodReporter,
26 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Was her decision to push forward with a severe knee injury a calculated risk or stubborn foolishness?—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Navarro devoted a chapter to the seductive foolishness of protectionist trade policies.—
Ian Parker,
New Yorker,
22 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ignorance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ignorance. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
