1
as in ungrammatical
violating approved patterns of speaking and writing
most of the messages left on the Web site's bulletin board are illiterate
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in ignorant
lacking in education or the knowledge gained from books
offered menus with pictures, presumably for the many illiterate people who must eat there
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in ignoramus
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples 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 illiterate
Sean Malin, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2024
According to a study by the Global Financial Literacy Excellence Center, 76% of women in Nigeria, 70% in Ghana and 57% in South Africa are financially illiterate.
—Odiri Oginni, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2024
In other words, nearly all of Singapore’s secondary school students have sufficient skills for the world of work, while almost three-quarters of South Africa’s youth are functionally illiterate.
—Jim Yong Kim, Foreign Affairs, 14 June 2018
Hesiod, formerly an illiterate shepherd, claimed that he was inspired to write the poem when a beautiful goddess whispered the story in his ear.
—Alison Habens, JSTOR Daily, 31 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for illiterate 
Adjective
There are also fart jokes, piss-drinking, illiterate hobo pirates, and Missi Pyle with a unibrow and fangs, all of which still go straight to the comedy jugular 20 years after the film’s release.
—Sean Malin, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2024
According to a study by the Global Financial Literacy Excellence Center, 76% of women in Nigeria, 70% in Ghana and 57% in South Africa are financially illiterate.
—Odiri Oginni, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2024
In other words, nearly all of Singapore’s secondary school students have sufficient skills for the world of work, while almost three-quarters of South Africa’s youth are functionally illiterate.
—Jim Yong Kim, Foreign Affairs, 14 June 2018
Hesiod, formerly an illiterate shepherd, claimed that he was inspired to write the poem when a beautiful goddess whispered the story in his ear.
—Alison Habens, JSTOR Daily, 31 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for illiterate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for illiterate
Adjective
-
And in general, the A.I. bots were useful for sharpening prose and cleaning up clunky, ungrammatical sentences.Brian X. Chen, New York Times, 1 Feb. 2023
-
That could be useful for conversations where telegraphic, ungrammatical messages would come off as impolite.Tom Simonite, Wired, 18 Oct. 2020
Adjective
-
Anyone who says she wasn't properly screened is either ignorant or has an agenda.Dan Perry, Newsweek, 2 Jan. 2025
-
Who would go out of their way to remain ignorant in the face of an informative lecture on bunker oil?Rachel Kushner, Harper's Magazine, 2 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
And finally, there is Remy (Guillaume Cyr), a well-meaning security guard at the Quebec Maple Association who is a bit of an ignoramus.Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 6 Dec. 2024
-
Under the Tories’ watch, the prime minister’s residence at 10 Downing Street in London was occupied by a dyspeptic culture warrior (Theresa May), who was succeeded by a fustian blowhard (Boris Johnson), who begot an economic ignoramus (Liz Truss).Lee Hockstader, Washington Post, 5 July 2024
Noun
-
Instead, Fuego was a know-nothing machine that based its decisions on random choices and statistics.Jonathan Schaeffer, IEEE Spectrum, 25 June 2014
-
Who knew the know-nothing King in the North had capitalist ambition?Zoe Guy, Vulture, 2 July 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near illiterate
Cite this Entry
“Illiterate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illiterate. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share