1
as in ignorance
a state of being disregardful or unconscious of one's surroundings, concerns, or obligations
her general obliviousness often results in her walking into walls and other hard-to-miss objects
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in unawareness
the state of being unaware or uninformed
obliviousness of a law is not an acceptable excuse for breaking it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of obliviousness
After a two-hour tale of comical deception, betrayal, emotional cruelty, insensitivity and obliviousness, the audience is expected to swallow a message of caring and community.
—
Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 27 Feb. 2026
In Aspen, Wiseman deployed this method to showcase the casual obliviousness of some of his subjects.
—Vikram Murthi, The Atlantic, 22 Feb. 2026
Meanwhile, a stylist has had to cancel his own honeymoon due to delays in the tour, indicating both slavish, life-altering devotion to the British pop star in her coterie, but also her obliviousness to such things going on.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 24 Jan. 2026
Arriving empty-handed, leaving messes behind, being hours late — behaviors like these reflect obliviousness or busyness at best, or selfishness or entitlement at worst.
—Kristen Rogers, CNN Money, 25 Dec. 2025
Gentleman thief Sir Charles Lytton (David Niven) circles the prize while Inspector Jacques Clouseau (Peter Sellers) bungles the pursuit with sublime obliviousness.
—Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 25 Oct. 2025
There is total and telling obliviousness to his giant flat-screen television, tuned to the SEC Network and a women’s soccer match between Arkansas and … Notre Dame.
—Brian Hamilton, New York Times, 27 Aug. 2025
But the flip side of that obliviousness is a tremendous ambition and a sort of mad optimism.
—Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 14 Aug. 2025
The disgust stems both from that aura of obliviousness and from a retrospective knowledge that the sincerity of late-two-thousands indie music was quickly co-opted into a more commercial version of itself.
—Kyle Chayka, New Yorker, 13 Aug. 2025
Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 27 Feb. 2026
In Aspen, Wiseman deployed this method to showcase the casual obliviousness of some of his subjects.
—Vikram Murthi, The Atlantic, 22 Feb. 2026
Meanwhile, a stylist has had to cancel his own honeymoon due to delays in the tour, indicating both slavish, life-altering devotion to the British pop star in her coterie, but also her obliviousness to such things going on.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 24 Jan. 2026
Arriving empty-handed, leaving messes behind, being hours late — behaviors like these reflect obliviousness or busyness at best, or selfishness or entitlement at worst.
—Kristen Rogers, CNN Money, 25 Dec. 2025
Gentleman thief Sir Charles Lytton (David Niven) circles the prize while Inspector Jacques Clouseau (Peter Sellers) bungles the pursuit with sublime obliviousness.
—Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 25 Oct. 2025
There is total and telling obliviousness to his giant flat-screen television, tuned to the SEC Network and a women’s soccer match between Arkansas and … Notre Dame.
—Brian Hamilton, New York Times, 27 Aug. 2025
But the flip side of that obliviousness is a tremendous ambition and a sort of mad optimism.
—Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 14 Aug. 2025
The disgust stems both from that aura of obliviousness and from a retrospective knowledge that the sincerity of late-two-thousands indie music was quickly co-opted into a more commercial version of itself.
—Kyle Chayka, New Yorker, 13 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obliviousness
Noun
-
Disagreeing with presidential actions is one thing, but opining on the psychology behind his decisions shows ignorance.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Many fear losing their jobs, sometimes through ignorance rather than data.—
Kamal Ahmed,
Fortune,
25 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Lifelong impairments like cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, blindness, deafness, autism, and ADHD, as well as severe chronic illnesses like diabetes or heart disease, are covered.—
Madison Dapcevich,
Outside,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Additionally, people with print disabilities, such as those with blindness or a disability affecting manual dexterity, can fill out a separate application that will prompt the county to email them a link to an online voting tool.—
Kayla Dwyer,
IndyStar,
24 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Experts recommend placing valuables in zippered pockets inside a bag rather than loose in bins to reduce theft or forgetfulness.—
Iona Brannon,
Travel + Leisure,
13 Mar. 2026
-
What these succulents don’t handle well is overwatering, so don’t think that giving them a little extra to make up for forgetfulness will pay off.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
8 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Until the economies of scale kicked in that would shove mechanical movements into near oblivion within a decade, quartz watches were priced well at the luxury end of the market.—
David Szondy
March 28,
New Atlas,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Celebrate the endless oblivion of eternal night with an evening that recreates the city’s ethereal relationship with vampires in all their forms on this most hallowed of dates.—
William Earl,
Variety,
25 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Obliviousness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obliviousness. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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