benighted

[ bih-nahy-tid ]
See synonyms for benighted on Thesaurus.com
adjective
  1. intellectually or morally ignorant; unenlightened: benighted ages of barbarism and superstition.

  2. overtaken by darkness or night.

Origin of benighted

1
First recorded in 1565–75; be- + night + -ed2

Other words for benighted

Other words from benighted

  • be·night·ed·ly, adverb
  • be·night·ed·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for benighted

benighted

/ (bɪˈnaɪtɪd) /


adjective
  1. lacking cultural, moral, or intellectual enlightenment; ignorant

  2. archaic overtaken by night

Derived forms of benighted

  • benightedly, adverb
  • benightedness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012