1
as in hulk
a big clumsy often slow-witted person
they looked like a tribe of Neanderthals compared to the bridegroom's patrician-looking family
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in barbarian
a man with crude manners and habits and outmoded attitudes
made the mistake of dining with some Neanderthal who repeatedly mistook his shirtsleeve for a napkin
Synonyms & Similar Words
variants
or Neandertal
as in rude
not civilized
her boyfriend's Neanderthal tastes and manners were often embarrassing
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of Neanderthal
Ashley Strickland, CNN, 14 Sep. 2024
In 2015, archaeologists discovered the remains of a Neanderthal in a cave in southern France.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Sep. 2024
The Naked Neanderthal Before joining Discover Magazine, Paul spent over 20 years as a science journalist, specializing in U.S. life science policy and global scientific career issues.
—Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 11 Sep. 2024
Understanding that Neanderthal communities were potentially smaller and insular could be critical to understanding their extinction.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 11 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for Neanderthal 
Noun
That isolation put Neanderthals at an evolutionary disadvantage and could have led to their demise.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN, 14 Sep. 2024
In 2015, archaeologists discovered the remains of a Neanderthal in a cave in southern France.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Sep. 2024
The Naked Neanderthal Before joining Discover Magazine, Paul spent over 20 years as a science journalist, specializing in U.S. life science policy and global scientific career issues.
—Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 11 Sep. 2024
Understanding that Neanderthal communities were potentially smaller and insular could be critical to understanding their extinction.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 11 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for Neanderthal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for Neanderthal
Noun
-
Kadyrov’s fighters were instrumental in the final assault on Donetsk Airport in January, having fought for months to capture the wrecked hulk of buildings that once made up the passenger terminals.Nicholas Waller, Foreign Affairs, 1 Apr. 2015
-
There were literal piles of dead and mangled Russians around the smoldering hulks.David Axe, Forbes, 1 Oct. 2024
Noun
-
Lucius comes into his uneasy heritage after defeat in the erroneous homeland where he is considered a barbarian.Armond White, National Review, 6 Dec. 2024
-
Given the dearth of direct evidence for stimulant use among the barbarians of Europe, the researchers decided to look for indirect clues.Jason Fields, Newsweek, 4 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
Recently, Amy's sister, Tammy Slaton, faced criticism for being rude to her in a November episode of 1,000-lb.Benedict Cosgrove, Newsweek, 20 Dec. 2024
-
Eye contact, valued in some cultures as a sign of openness and candor, might be seen as rude or intrusive elsewhere.Carol Kinsey Goman, Ph.D., Forbes, 12 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
Christmas in America has long been about receiving presents from Santa for being nice, or at worst, getting a lump of coal for being naughty.Jennifer Borresen, USA TODAY, 13 Dec. 2024
-
Make cream cheese mixture: Beat together cream cheese, mayonnaise, sour cream, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire, hot sauce, and garlic powder in a large bowl with an electric mixer on low speed until well combined and no lumps remain, 1 to 2 minutes.Giovanna Vazquez, Southern Living, 8 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
The zoo also temporarily suspended visitors' activities of directly contacting the animals.Charna Flam, People.com, 13 Dec. 2024
-
In deepest Siberia, where winds blow cold and poachers reduce wild animals to the brink of extinction, an unlikely tale of tiger romance is warming hearts and reinvigorating faith in species reintroduction.Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
The 2023 grand marshal is former Arizona Democratic congresswoman Gabby Giffords, gravely wounded in a savage mass shooting in 2011 that also killed six people.Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 27 Dec. 2022
-
As savage Arctic cold was getting ready to surge south across North America, vivid imagery based on data from weather models showed us what was going to happen.Tom Yulsman, Discover Magazine, 27 Dec. 2022
Noun
-
Reporters dutifully type up the winners and losers on their flights home.Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 13 Dec. 2024
-
As with other areas of the law, the Biden-Harris administration routinely weaponized antitrust enforcement to pick economic winners and losers.Tom Hebert, National Review, 13 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
The caveman bit allows the characters free rein to get extremely silly, and their disgust for Squidward’s clarinet-playing is immortal.Barry Levitt, Vulture, 27 Aug. 2024
-
Now it's known as the bulletproof diet, paleo, caveman, Atkins, or the ketogenic diet.Outside Online, Outside Online, 17 July 2024
Articles Related to Neanderthal
Thesaurus Entries Near Neanderthal
Cite this Entry
“Neanderthal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/Neanderthal. Accessed 23 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share