Neanderthal

Ne·an·der·thal

noun
\nē-ˈan-dər-ˌtȯl, -ˌthȯl; nā-ˈän-dər-ˌtäl\

Definition of NEANDERTHAL

1

or Ne·an·der·tal \-ˌtȯl, -ˌtäl\ : a hominid (Homo neanderthalensis syn H. sapiens neanderthalensis) known from skeletal remains in Europe, northern Africa, and western Asia that lived from about 30,000 to 200,000 years ago —called also Neanderthal man

2

: one who suggests a caveman in appearance, mentality, or behavior

— Neanderthal or Neandertal adjective

— Ne·an·der·thal·oid \-ˌtȯ-ˌlȯid, -ˌthȯ-, -ˌtä-\ adjective or noun

Examples of NEANDERTHAL

1. I can't believe I was married to that Neanderthal for three years.
2. Some Neanderthals continue to resist the education reform bill.

Origin of NEANDERTHAL

Neanderthal, valley in western Germany

First Known Use: 1863

Related to NEANDERTHAL

Synonyms: clod, clodhopper, gawk, hulk, lout, lubber, lug, lump, oaf, palooka

Related Words: chump, loser, schlemiel (also shlemiel), turkey; slouch; airhead, birdbrain, blockhead, blunderer, bonehead, bubblehead, chowderhead, chucklehead, clodpoll (or clodpole), clot [British], cluck, clunk, cuddy (or cuddie) [British dialect], deadhead, dim bulb [slang], dimwit, dip, dodo, dolt, donkey, doofus [slang], dope, dork [slang], dullard, dumbbell, dumbhead, dum-dum, dummkopf, dummy, dunce, dunderhead, fathead, galoot [slang], gander, golem, goof, goon, half-wit, hammerhead, hardhead, idiot, ignoramus, imbecile, jackass, know-nothing, knucklehead, lamebrain, loggerhead [chiefly dialect], loon, lump, lunkhead, meathead, mome [archaic], moron, mug [chiefly British], mutt, natural, nimrod [slang], nincompoop, ninny, ninnyhammer, nit [chiefly British], nitwit, noddy, noodle, numskull (or numbskull), pinhead, prat [British], ratbag [chiefly Australian], saphead, schlub (also shlub) [slang], schnook [slang], simp, simpleton, stock, stupe, stupid, thickhead, turkey, woodenhead, yahoo, yo-yo; anthropoid, ape, beast, boor, brute, cad, churl, clown, creep, cretin, cur, heel, louse, skunk, snake, stinker, tyke (also tike) [chiefly British], villain; booby, fool, goose, loony (also looney), lunatic, madman, nut; featherbrain, scatterbrain; rascal, rogue, scamp

Near Antonyms: brain, brainiac, egghead, genius, intellectual, sage, thinker, whiz, wizard

see all synonyms and antonyms

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Other Anthropology Terms

ectomorph, ethnography, prehistory, yurt

Rhymes with NEANDERTHAL

entente cordiale, procès-verbal, sublittoral