as in ignorance
the state of being unaware or uninformed
some intense studying rapidly remedied my unfamiliarity with the subject in time for the exam
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Recent Examples of unfamiliarity
Hesitation may indicate unfamiliarity—not inadequacy.
—
Yann Dang, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
Not out of intent, but out of unfamiliarity.
—Pragati Awasthi, The Conversation, 26 May 2026
Kennedy’s overhaul of the group and its unfamiliarity with some of the nitty-gritty of procedural requirements was evident throughout the afternoon.
—O. Rose Broderick, STAT, 28 Apr. 2026
But that confidence may be put to a test as potential challengers included in the survey posted stronger favorability scores than Johnson — though the city residents surveyed displayed significant levels of unfamiliarity with those possible rivals.
—Rick Pearson, Chicago Tribune, 26 Apr. 2026
Experts say North Korean troops sent to the war earlier became easy targets for drone and artillery attacks due to their lack of combat experience and unfamiliarity with the terrain.
—ABC News, 26 Apr. 2026
In between, though, the Mets showed their unfamiliarity with running the bases.
—Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 16 Apr. 2026
Others mocked the outlet’s apparent unfamiliarity with the logistics of covering Congress.
—Dominick Mastrangelo, The Hill, 15 Apr. 2026
Because of his smaller size and the coaches’ unfamiliarity with his game, Hicks was placed on the school’s second-level 15U prep team.
—Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 4 Apr. 2026
Yann Dang, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
Not out of intent, but out of unfamiliarity.
—Pragati Awasthi, The Conversation, 26 May 2026
Kennedy’s overhaul of the group and its unfamiliarity with some of the nitty-gritty of procedural requirements was evident throughout the afternoon.
—O. Rose Broderick, STAT, 28 Apr. 2026
But that confidence may be put to a test as potential challengers included in the survey posted stronger favorability scores than Johnson — though the city residents surveyed displayed significant levels of unfamiliarity with those possible rivals.
—Rick Pearson, Chicago Tribune, 26 Apr. 2026
Experts say North Korean troops sent to the war earlier became easy targets for drone and artillery attacks due to their lack of combat experience and unfamiliarity with the terrain.
—ABC News, 26 Apr. 2026
In between, though, the Mets showed their unfamiliarity with running the bases.
—Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 16 Apr. 2026
Others mocked the outlet’s apparent unfamiliarity with the logistics of covering Congress.
—Dominick Mastrangelo, The Hill, 15 Apr. 2026
Because of his smaller size and the coaches’ unfamiliarity with his game, Hicks was placed on the school’s second-level 15U prep team.
—Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 4 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unfamiliarity
ignorance
Noun
-
When racist incidents happen, colleges sometimes respond with educational programs that ask students of color to fix white ignorance for free.—
Ingrid A. Nelson,
The Conversation,
29 May 2026
-
The combined disgust, discomfort, ignorance, and fascination with our Indigeneity that unsettled my aunties and fascinated my cousins made more sense to me.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unfamiliarity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unfamiliarity. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.
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