willfully ignorant

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "willfully ignorant" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone who deliberately chooses to ignore or avoid knowledge or information. Example: "Despite the overwhelming evidence, he remained willfully ignorant about the consequences of his actions."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The conveniences and pleasures that all these gadgets have brought to our lives have been purchased at the cost of considerable human suffering, of which we remain willfully ignorant or simply choose to ignore.

The New York Times

Trump's are just willfully ignorant and that is truly terrifying.

The Washington Post

You might call it the triumph of the willfully ignorant.

The Guardian - Opinion

He wallows in a willfully ignorant foreign policy.

The New York Times

Bernie Sanders, on the other hand, is "willfully ignorant".

The Guardian - Business

Love is famously blind; if Braun and Dodd are any indication, it is also willfully ignorant.

The New York Times

On other occasions, however, he has seemed almost willfully ignorant of the political climate.

The New Yorker

Those farmers who refused to conform could be justifiably labeled as selfish, willfully ignorant, and destructive.

Stanford University

She remained willfully ignorant about the reach of her father's life, and his disease.

The New York Times

And, as to Mr Sanders, I think he is purposely, willfully ignorant.

The Guardian - Business

Their decision to omit the environment as a fundamental economic consideration is willfully ignorant and negligent.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "willfully ignorant" to describe situations where a person is aware of available information but chooses to ignore it, often to avoid confronting uncomfortable truths or changing their stance.

Common error

Avoid using "willfully ignorant" when describing a simple lack of knowledge. The phrase implies a conscious decision to remain uninformed, not just a state of unawareness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "willfully ignorant" functions as a compound adjective that modifies a noun. It describes a state of deliberately choosing to ignore or avoid knowledge. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and in common usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

77%

Academia

13%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "willfully ignorant" is a frequently used and grammatically correct phrase that describes a deliberate choice to remain uninformed. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase often conveys criticism and is prevalent in news and media contexts. While alternatives like "deliberately uninformed" or "intentionally oblivious" exist, "willfully ignorant" emphasizes the conscious and often blameworthy nature of the ignorance. When writing, remember to use it to describe active choice to remain uninformed. It's essential to distinguish it from a simple lack of awareness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

deliberately uninformed

Emphasizes the conscious choice to remain without information.

intentionally oblivious

Highlights the active choice to ignore or not notice something.

consciously unaware

Stresses the awareness of a lack of knowledge.

purposely uneducated

Focuses on the intentional avoidance of learning or being informed.

studiously blind

Implies a careful and deliberate avoidance of seeing or understanding.

determinedly naive

Highlights the firm decision to maintain a state of naivety.

by choice unlearned

Indicates that the lack of learning is a result of a decision.

resolutely uninformed

Emphasizes the firmness of the decision to remain uninformed.

knowingly unacquainted

Highlights the awareness of a lack of familiarity with something.

advisedly ignorant

Suggests a careful consideration before choosing ignorance.

FAQs

How to use "willfully ignorant" in a sentence?

You can use "willfully ignorant" to describe someone who chooses to ignore information. For example: "He remained "willfully ignorant" of the facts, even when presented with evidence."

What can I say instead of "willfully ignorant"?

You can use alternatives like "deliberately uninformed", "intentionally oblivious", or "consciously unaware" depending on the context.

What is the difference between "willfully ignorant" and "ignorant"?

"Ignorant" simply means lacking knowledge or awareness. "Willfully ignorant", however, implies a conscious decision to remain uninformed, often despite the availability of information.

When is it appropriate to use the term "willfully ignorant"?

Use "willfully ignorant" when you want to emphasize that someone is not merely uninformed, but actively choosing to ignore or reject available information.