Is there a kinder, friendlier word that we can use as a synonym for "ignorant"?

Question

Like when we call idiots on here "ignorant" they seem to get really offended. Is there a more compassionate word?

And before I get half of the responses saying "repost this, its not Religion and Spirituality" let me point out that I'm asking because "ignorant" and "uneducated" are the words I usually use in answers to christians dumbas$ questions about evolution and the like. I'm just trying to be more sensitive to their fragile feelings. Aren't I just too nice!

Answer 1

If you mean ignorant say ignorant. The truth is the most compassionate.

Answer 2

To be ignorant of something is to be UNinformed about it.

Simply suggest, in a kind and patient manner, that they avail themselves of the many opportunities for adult education which abound in our cities and towns. Most such places are reasonably priced and some are even free.

Do NOT suggest, or even hint, that such places would avail them nothing as they have an intrinsic inability to learn. That may well be true, but it's still not courteous.

Better still, refrain from making comments about their mental acuity or lack thereof at all. Unless you can throw around a whole slew of 64 dollar words and pique their curiosity (if any) thereby causing them to take the aforementioned step in filling the abyssal gaps in their education.

In the meantime, why not simply refer to them as possessing a paucity of data from a plethora of sources. You may even commiserate with them on the lack.

Answer 3

Ignorant does *not* mean someone is an idiot. It means they don't understand or are not familiar with a topic. Being ignorant of something is not synonymous with being an idiot.

The problem is, most ignorant persons will take being called ignorant as offensive and will believe it to be synonymous with idiot, dolt, or a plethora of other choice words. The problem is, they are ignorant of ignorance. Their ignorance inhibits them from understanding the meaning of the word as not being an offensive word, but rather a kind way of stating that someone is not versed on a topic.

I think ignorant is plenty kind.

Answer 4

Well, 'ignorant' is actually pretty benign, so far as words go. It means lacking in knowledge, un-schooled, uneducated. Of course, people who are offended by it seem to think that it means something like 'ill-mannered', or something like that. Of course, that is understandable, considering that they are lacking in knowledge, un-schooled, uneducated.

I think that it might be a good idea to resort to fables. Consider an imagined Greek philosopher, named 'Moronicus'... a contemporary of Plato. His philosophy required adhering to unsupportable beliefs, strictly based upon the way they made you feel, or the way you would like things to be. His followers, of course, would be 'Morons'... and the philosophy easily captures all the adherents of dogmatic, 'revealed' religions, without having to get too specific.

Answer 5

Some synonyms for "ignorant" from Roget's online thesaurus:
bird-brained, cretinous, dense, illiterate, imbecilic, inexperienced, mindless, misinformed, moronic, naive, oblivious, thick, unaware, uneducated, unenlightened, uninformed, unknowledgeable, unlearned, unschooled, untaught, witless

I like "narrow-minded" as well. It's a little less insulting and sounds like you're giving them a suggestion for self-improvement. :-)

Answer 6

Bumping uglies. only because of fact the 1st and easily individual I ever heard use that factor era became my dad. I got here residing house from spending the evening at a chum's residing house and he stated how he and my mom "bumped uglies" on my mattress whilst i became long gone. He then laughed it off whilst my mom only regarded at me and suggested "that may not genuine." communicate approximately traumatizing.

Answer 7

Alex beat me to it by 16 seconds ;-)

As well as "uninformed", it can also mean "unaware or unfamiliar"

Of course, sometimes a good ol' Socratic question will point out the obvious ;-)

Answer 8

Ignorant i think is OK it depends on the way it is being used.it is a privilege that someone brings your attention to something you are ignorant of. what matters is the manner it is presented. if you can be more subtle in the usage it should be acceptable.

Answer 9

ain Entry: ignorant
Part of Speech: adjective
Definition: unknowing
Synonyms: apprenticed, benighted, bird-brained, blind to*, cretinous, dense, green*, illiterate, imbecilic, inexperienced, innocent, insensible, mindless, misinformed, moronic, naive, nescient, oblivious, obtuse, sappy, shallow, thick, unaware, unconscious, unconversant, uncultivated, uncultured, uneducated, unenlightened, uninformed, uninitiated, unintellectual, unknowledgeable, unlearned, unlettered, unmindful, unread, unschooled, unsuspecting, untaught, untrained, unwitting, witless

Answer 10

My friend. What does GOD Himself call people?

IGNORANT..

Why is MAN, supposed to change a word or meaning, any other than, that of what God said?

A man would be "Ignorant", to do this.

Answer 11

They use less brain cells. Or maybe, you are to nice. Call an apple an apple and a orange an orange and stupidity, stupidity.