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
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for Neanderthal
Noun
-
When Krem takes off in Kara’s spacecraft, a rusted hulk that’s like an interplanetary RV, and shoots her beloved dog Krypto with a lethal tranquilizer that will result in agonizing death in three days, Kara joins Ruthye on her revenge quest.
-
The hulk has made it to the Seaport once — in September 2024 when it was towed to Pier 17 for a Tommy Hilfiger Fashion Week event.
Noun
-
The world drew heavily from the paintings of fantasy illustrator Frank Frazetta, who depicted scenes of barbarians and beasts in conflict, of pulp fiction heroes, femme fatales, and fierce warrior women.
-
To an outsider, the scene may spark a certain Schadenfreude, like an army of tiny barbarians sacking Rome.
Adjective
-
Due Amici brings Brooklyn roots and authenticity, right down to the counter service that’s not rude but not exactly warm.
-
It’s widely considered rude and annoying when people cluster by the train doors if there are more people on the platform attempting to get on.
Noun
-
Pastas, all made in house, are a solid choice too—like the Squid Ink Orecchiette with lump crab.
-
Stocklas was retired by the time of his Powerball win, which netted a lump-sum payment of $191 million.
Noun
-
Rabies can also be transmitted through direct contact with brain or nervous system tissue from an infected animal.
-
The animals have been seen on airport runways, walking on golf courses, roaming near schools and causing panic in supermarkets and hot spring resorts almost on a daily basis.
Adjective
-
The Yellow Death has disfigured the population, and soldiers in white-and-red tunics serve the savage Duke of Tviot.
-
Josefowicz, in her decathlon of a performance, brought Ligeti’s savage discontinuities to the surface.
Noun
-
The losers are the automakers still leaving accessories to the dealer, where the margin quietly bleeds away.
-
That is a big risk investors take when trying to find the winners and losers within the biotech sector.
Noun
-
There’s a lyric where reporters are wondering why Mullally’s Vera Vim, a fading actress, bought a caveman.
-
Throughout the Backrooms, there are several cardboard cutouts of a mysterious caveman, wired to a communication device that broadcasts audio greetings in multiple languages.
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.
Cite this Entry
“Neanderthal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/Neanderthal. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
