unlearned 1 of 2

Definition of unlearnednext

unlearned

2 of 2

verb

past tense of unlearn

Synonym Chooser

How is the word unlearned distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of unlearned are ignorant, illiterate, unlettered, and untutored. While all these words mean "not having knowledge," unlearned suggests ignorance of advanced subjects.

poetry not for academics but for the unlearned masses

When is it sensible to use ignorant instead of unlearned?

The synonyms ignorant and unlearned are sometimes interchangeable, but ignorant may imply a general condition or it may apply to lack of knowledge or awareness of a particular thing.

an ignorant fool
ignorant of nuclear physics

When would illiterate be a good substitute for unlearned?

Although the words illiterate and unlearned have much in common, illiterate applies to either an absolute or a relative inability to read and write.

much of the population is still illiterate

When could unlettered be used to replace unlearned?

While the synonyms unlettered and unlearned are close in meaning, unlettered implies ignorance of the knowledge gained by reading.

an allusion meaningless to the unlettered

When can untutored be used instead of unlearned?

The words untutored and unlearned can be used in similar contexts, but untutored may imply lack of schooling in the arts and ways of civilization.

strange monuments built by an untutored people

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 unlearned
Adjective
Peeta explained unlearned stimuli cause AVs to simply stop. Doug Turnbull, AJC.com, 25 Jan. 2026 Old fears or old power struggles can become poison if unprocessed, if the lessons remain unlearned. Magi Helena, Dallas Morning News, 15 Jan. 2026 But like any socialized behavior, this mindset can be unlearned. Ruth Oh Reitmeier, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025 Those afflicted with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) often behave in a manner which the unlearned (or uncaring) will immediately label as criminal. Killian Baarlaer, The Courier-Journal, 6 Sep. 2024 Although the 1973 commission’s report ran to 2,200 pages, some big lessons from 1973 may have gone unlearned—lessons that Israel needed to understand then and still do now. Uri Kaufman, Foreign Affairs, 20 Oct. 2023 Observers are left similarly unlearned about how the case might be decided. Matt Ford, The New Republic, 23 Mar. 2023 The racial disparities have left public health experts and activists frustrated that lessons from the Covid-19 response remain unlearned. Liam Stack, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2022 Still, there are lessons that remain unlearned. W. James Antle Iii, The Week, 24 Feb. 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unlearned
Adjective
  • Walz said children fear aggressive agents; critics called the comparison ignorant and offensive.
    Staff, FOXNews.com, 29 Jan. 2026
  • One of Johnson’s former Cowboys superstars, Colorado head coach Deion Sanders, called voters who ignored Belichick ignorant.
    Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • It was learned that the girl forgot something after missing the school bus, and while heading back home alone, the stranger approached.
    Jermont Terry, CBS News, 10 Feb. 2026
  • Others forgot their potty training, regressed to food hoarding, or stopped eating.
    Ava Kofman, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • That is often lost in the myth of baseball in Denver.
    Troy Renck, Denver Post, 12 Feb. 2026
  • Of course, the circumstances for why each band lost their personnel varies, such as illness (Mick Jones), death (the 1977 Skynyrd airplane crash), and the inevitable need for retirement.
    Devon Ivie, Vulture, 11 Feb. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Unlearned.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unlearned. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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