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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of Neanderthal
Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 4 July 2025
These discoveries have prompted scientists to consider whether Neanderthals have been wrongly underestimated.
—Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi, Discover Magazine, 30 June 2025
What If Neanderthals Lived with Humans? Unlike humans, who are experts in optimization and always looking for ways to further perfect our efficiency, Neanderthals weren’t capable of the same imagination.
—Sara Novak, Discover Magazine, 28 June 2025
Along with the bone tools, jewelry, and even rope that archaeologists have found at other Neanderthal sites, the projectile is one more clue pointing to the fact that Neanderthals were actually pretty sharp.
—ArsTechnica, 1 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for Neanderthal
Noun
Details in the new research suggest that Neanderthals may have been unexpectedly sophisticated in their approach to nutrition, too.
—Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 4 July 2025
These discoveries have prompted scientists to consider whether Neanderthals have been wrongly underestimated.
—Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi, Discover Magazine, 30 June 2025
What If Neanderthals Lived with Humans? Unlike humans, who are experts in optimization and always looking for ways to further perfect our efficiency, Neanderthals weren’t capable of the same imagination.
—Sara Novak, Discover Magazine, 28 June 2025
Along with the bone tools, jewelry, and even rope that archaeologists have found at other Neanderthal sites, the projectile is one more clue pointing to the fact that Neanderthals were actually pretty sharp.
—ArsTechnica, 1 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for Neanderthal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for Neanderthal
Noun
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Remember: Without the stunning moment when the boat kisses that frozen hulk, this Best Picture winner is just another Romeo and Juliet knockoff.—
EW Staff Published,
EW.com,
3 July 2025
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Like the ghostly hulk of the Titanic below the surface of the sea, Northbrook Court is a quiet and cavernous relic — at the bottom of the retail food chain.—
David Petitti,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Once, some 2,000 years ago, so many such personages (then known as barbarians) came to Paris simultaneously that the city was destroyed.—
Caity Weaver,
The Atlantic,
5 June 2025
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This new Leo is poised to save America’s democracy from American barbarians within, seeking to destroy centuries of democratic compromise toward a more perfect union.—
Emmett Coyne,
The Hill,
23 May 2025
Adjective
-
Some posed for photos, others made rude gestures, and many simply stared.—
Jasmine Baehr,
FOXNews.com,
27 July 2025
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The movie’s off-color humor wouldn’t fly today, but its rebellious spirit remains hilariously defiant — a refreshingly rude retort to the niceties of family films and their cringey feel-good messages.—
Tim Grierson,
Vulture,
25 July 2025
Noun
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Between the freshness of the lump crab and its vegetal crunch, the orzo had all the makings of a great summer pasta salad, if on the mild-mannered side.—
Hannah Edgar,
Chicago Tribune,
26 July 2025
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The 43-year-old initially felt an olive-sized lump in her breast while pregnant, forcing an early labor and a mastectomy just six days after giving birth to Lily, now 11.—
Lucy Notarantonio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 July 2025
Noun
-
One way the department is minimizing conflict is by having range riders present for animals in open range.—
Saleen Martin,
USA Today,
23 July 2025
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Key takeaways: What type of animal is the Mirasaura?—
Riley Black,
Smithsonian Magazine,
23 July 2025
Adjective
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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
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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
Noun
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More Mark Taylor/Getty Images Bleacher Report's Zachary D. Rymer has predicted that New York will be the biggest losers when the trade deadline is complete.—
Andrew Wright,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 July 2025
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Kelsey was the biggest loser—her shelter was nearly engulfed by a massive river.—
Frederick Dreier,
Outside Online,
18 July 2025
Noun
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Here are some surprising ways to stay safe What is the 'caveman method'?—
Greta Cross,
USA Today,
6 July 2025
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The latest social media skincare trend that everyone is talking about is the caveman method.—
Stephanie Edwards,
Discover Magazine,
30 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Neanderthal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/Neanderthal. Accessed 4 Aug. 2025.
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