unlearned
Without formal education
Unlearned has two distinct meanings depending on pronunciation.
With stress on the second syllable (un-LERND), it describes someone lacking education or knowledge: an unlearned peasant.
With stress on the third syllable (un-LER-ned), it describes something not acquired through learning—innate or instinctive: unlearned behaviors like suckling.
The word also means not yet learned: unlearned lessons, unlearned skills.
Cannot read or write
- unschooledLacking formal instruction
- untaughtNever given lessons
- uninstructedNot given directions
- unletteredUnable to read
ignorant · benighted · unenlightened · untutored · uncultivated · unread · uninformed · uneducated
Arising without conscious thought
- inbornExisting from birth
- naturalNot artificially produced
- intuitiveKnown without reasoning
- inherentExisting as essential part
spontaneous · automatic · reflexive · hardwired · primal · gut · involuntary · unacquired
illiterate
Cannot read or write
- unschooledLacking formal instruction
- untaughtNever given lessons
- uninstructedNot given directions
unlettered · ignorant · benighted · unenlightened · untutored · uncultivated · unread · uninformed · uneducated · unversed
instinctive
Arising without conscious thought
inherent · spontaneous · automatic · reflexive · hardwired · primal · gut · involuntary · unacquired · native
novice
Inexperienced newcomer to field
- beginnerOne who lacks experience
- neophyteInexperienced beginner
- greenhornInexperienced, gullible newcomer
rookie · tyro · fledgling · newbie · apprentice · trainee · raw · green · untrained · amateur
- mindlessbrainless, mindless, witless, senseless, unthinking
- unrefinedcrude, coarse, rough, unpolished, uncouth
- Born with itinnate, inborn, hereditary, genetic, inherent
unlearnededucated
Having received formal instruction
schooled · trained · lettered · well-educated · taught
unlearnedlearned
Having much knowledge
erudite · knowledgeable · scholarly · well-read · well-informed
unlearnedskilled
Having learned ability
experienced · practiced · proficient · accomplished · competent