benighted

adjective

be·​night·​ed bi-ˈnī-təd 

bē-

1

: overtaken by darkness or night

Benighted travellers … have seen his midnight candle glimmering.

—W. B. Yeats

2

: existing in a state of intellectual, moral, or social darkness : unenlightened

spreading their message among these poor benighted people

a strange, benighted country

benightedly adverb

benightedness noun

Synonyms of benighted

• ignorant

Examples of benighted in a Sentence

the poor benighted souls who do not know the joys of reading

Recent Examples on the Web

Repeal the benighted Jones Act, which raises energy and shipping costs. —Editorial, Boston Herald, 30 Mar. 2026

Repeal the benighted Jones Act, which raises energy and shipping costs. —Bloomberg Opinion, Twin Cities, 29 Mar. 2026

If or when the elephants die, our own benighted species will surely not be far behind. —Justin Chang, New Yorker, 27 Feb. 2026

Even with Dibble effortlessly laying waste to every point and argument made by his benighted co-guest, Joe Rogan remained unconvinced. —Rafael Perez, Oc Register, 1 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for benighted

• affrighted
• alighted
• delighted
• excited
• farsighted
• highlighted
• ignited
• incited
• indicted
• invited
• nearsighted
• recited

Kids Definition

benighted

adjective

be·​night·​ed bi-ˈnīt-əd 

: ignorant sense 1, 2