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Glite Dictionary
nescient

nescient

9.9
Not knowing things, often about spiritual matters
  • adjective
  • /ˈnɛʃənt/
  • Archaic
translation icon : ignorante
  • The U.S. would be nescient to believe that Iran would abide by any agreement.

Examples

  • Many people remain nescient about the true history of our culture.

  • His nescient remarks about the complex topic showed that he hadn't done any research.

  • The debate became frustrating as people held nescient views on the subject matter.

Synonyms

ignorant
vsnescient
367 3.7

Not knowing about something or how it works

is especially used when lacking spiritual or ultimate knowledge
unsophisticated
vsnescient
10 4.7

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

is more general and can imply lacking spiritual awareness
unenlightened
vsnescient
6 7.0

Not knowing or understanding important information

highlights absence of spiritual or ultimate insight rather than mere ignorance
benighted
vsnescient
  • Formal
4 9.9

A person who does not have much knowledge or awareness of new ideas

is used more neutrally for general absence of knowledge or awareness
unknowledgeable
vsnescient
1 7.1

Not knowing much about a subject

focuses more on lacking spiritual or ultimate awareness
unlearned
vsnescient
1 7.7

A person with little education or knowledge about a subject

often refers instead to lack of awareness in spiritual matters
uninitiate
vsnescient
9.9

Not having experience in a subject or activity

is broader covering general lack of knowledge including spiritual cases

Antonyms

knowledgeable
92 4.1

A person who has learned a lot about a subject

informed
3.7

Someone who knows a lot about a subject because they have the facts

How Ignorant

benighted
  • Formal
4 9.9
nescient
  • Archaic
9.9
ignorant
367 3.7
oblivious
76 6.3
uninformed
42 3.7

Surface Forms

nescient positive

Etymology

Nescient comes from Latin parts ne- meaning 'not' and scire meaning 'to know', and it shares the same root seen in science. So nescient literally means 'not knowing' and is used for someone who lacks knowledge, often about deep or spiritual matters.