What is an antonym for education?

There isn't a perfect one-word antonym for "education." However, depending on the context, some words that capture the opposite idea include:

Ignorance: This is the most direct opposite, meaning a lack of knowledge or understanding.

Illiteracy: This specifically refers to the inability to read and write.

Unlearning: This implies actively forgetting or discarding previously learned information.

Misinformation: This refers to the spread of incorrect or misleading information, the opposite of accurate knowledge.

Indoctrination: This is the process of teaching someone to accept a set of beliefs uncritically, which is the opposite of critical thinking fostered by education.

Neglect: This implies a lack of attention or care towards learning and development, which is the opposite of intentional effort in education.

The choice of the best antonym depends on the specific context. For example, "ignorance" would be appropriate if discussing the opposite of general knowledge, while "indoctrination" would be more suitable when discussing the opposite of critical thinking.