Skip to main content
uninitiate

uninitiate

9.9
Not having experience in a subject or activity
  • adjective
  • /ˌʌnɪˈnɪʃiˌeɪt/
translation icon : no iniciado
  • Many uninitiate students find the material overwhelming.

Examples

  • Many uninitiate students find the material overwhelming.

  • The ancient ritual baffled the uninitiate in the audience.

  • This guide is intended to help the uninitiate explore the basics of wine tasting.

  • To the uninitiate, quantum physics can seem impossibly complex.

  • The uninitiate often struggle with complex theories.

  • This guide is intended to help the uninitiate explore the basics of wine tasting.

  • To the uninitiate, quantum physics can seem impossibly complex.

Synonyms

ignorant
vsuninitiate
367 3.7

Not knowing about something or how it works

is about not being introduced without the strong negative judgment
naive
vsuninitiate
312 4.1

Not experienced and too ready to trust others

is about absence of introduction rather than childlike trust or innocence
clueless
vsuninitiate
96 4.3

Not knowing about a subject or how to do something

suggests lack of introduction rather than the extreme tone of total ignorance
inexperienced
vsuninitiate
66 3.4

Not having much skill or practice

emphasizes not being introduced rather than only lacking practice
uninformed
vsuninitiate
42 3.7

Not knowing about a subject or situation

stresses absence of introduction more than simple lack of information
unfamiliar with
vsuninitiate
29 4.1

Not knowing much about something

focuses on lack of introduction rather than mere unfamiliarity
unsophisticated
vsuninitiate
10 4.7

A person who has little experience of the world and seems naive

is more neutral about introduction than implying lack of worldliness
uninitiated
vsuninitiate
8 8.0

People who do not know about a subject or activity

is the same in meaning but differs in written or spoken form
unenlightened
vsuninitiate
6 7.0

Not knowing or understanding important information

stresses missing an introduction rather than moral or intellectual darkness
unknowing
vsuninitiate
5 5.8

Not aware that something is happening or true

focuses on not being introduced rather than temporary unawareness
untutored
vsuninitiate
3 7.8

Having no formal schooling or lessons

is broader meaning not introduced rather than only missing formal instruction
unpracticed
vsuninitiate
1 6.0

Not experienced at doing something

stresses lack of introduction more than simply few practical repetitions
unacquainted
vsuninitiate
1 6.5

Not familiar with someone or something

emphasizes not being introduced rather than casual unfamiliarity
unacquainted with
vsuninitiate
1 6.7

Not knowing about something because you have no experience with it

means not introduced to something rather than only unfamiliar
unknowledgeable
vsuninitiate
1 7.1

Not knowing much about a subject

leans toward being not introduced rather than only missing facts
unversed
vsuninitiate
1 8.4

Not having much experience or knowledge about a subject

focuses on lack of introduction rather than missing training or practice
unstudied
vsuninitiate
1 6.8

Not having much knowledge of a subject

applies to not being introduced rather than simply lacking formal study
unlearned
vsuninitiate
1 7.7

A person with little education or knowledge about a subject

is more about not being introduced than formal education absence
uninstructed
vsuninitiate
6.9

Someone who has no training or basic knowledge about a subject

focuses on not being introduced rather than only missing teaching
unconversant
vsuninitiate
8.4

Not familiar with a subject or its details

is more about not being introduced than lacking active subject familiarity
unread
vsuninitiate
5.1

A person who knows little about a subject because they have not read about it

is broader meaning unfamiliar without implying lack of reading specifically
uncultivated
vsuninitiate
  • Offensive
7.1

A person who has little schooling or interest in the arts

focuses on not being introduced rather than lack of social polish
worldless
vsuninitiate
  • Archaic
8.8

Not having experience of ordinary life

emphasizes not being introduced rather than limited life experience
nescient
vsuninitiate
  • Archaic
9.9

Not knowing things, often about spiritual matters

focuses on not being introduced rather than spiritual ignorance specifically
nonexpert
vsuninitiate
4.2

Not having special knowledge or skill in a subject

implies absence of introduction rather than simply lacking specialization

Antonyms

138 2.1

Someone who has a lot of skill and knowledge from doing something many times

92 4.1

A person who has learned a lot about a subject

How Experienced

expert
3 3.5
skilled
172 3.5
competent
114 3.6
inexperienced
66 3.4
unfamiliar
104 4.4
uninitiate
9.9

Surface Forms

uninitiate positive

Morphology

uninitiate = initiate (transparent) = un + initiate

Formed by adding the productive negative prefix 'un-' to 'initiate'; the adjectival sense 'not experienced/introduced' is directly inferable.

Etymology

The word uninitiate is formed from un- 'not' plus initiate 'to begin', like in initial. So when someone or something is uninitiate, they are 'not introduced' and lack knowledge or experience in that area.