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
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Remember the scene in Marvel's The Avengers, when Bruce Banner transformed into the hulk and punched a Chitauri Leviathan in the face, bringing it to a sudden halt?—
Chris McMullen,
Space.com,
28 Nov. 2025 -
Jerome Grand Hotel For 44 years, the empty hulk of the United Verde Hospital loomed above the town like Dr. Frankenstein’s laboratory.—
Roger Naylor,
AZCentral.com,
14 Nov. 2025
Noun
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In most academic histories of European imperialism written in this century, the Europeans are the barbarians, killing and raping and looting on an unprecedented scale.—
David A. Bell,
The New York Review of Books,
19 Mar. 2026
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Yet the fact that Native Americans were not Christians but instead animists meant that Europeans viewed them as heathens, pagans, and barbarians, with few claims to the dignity to which Christians were entitled.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
25 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Other complaints from the boys included rude police officers and strict rules.—
Amanda Rosa,
Miami Herald,
21 Mar. 2026
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While Ward’s speed made for a rude welcoming, the most notable part of Cole’s day was his velocity.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
18 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The comments follow remarks from Cuban Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernández de Cossío, who indicated the government could offer a lump-sum compensation package to American claimants.—
Ivan Taylor,
CBS News,
24 Mar. 2026
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Repeat with the remaining flour mixture and buttermilk, beating just until no large lumps remain.—
Cathy Thomas,
Oc Register,
23 Mar. 2026
Noun
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As a teen-ager, Batten was the president of Animal Connection of Texas, an animal-rights nonprofit, and lobbied for restrictions on travelling circuses.—
Rachel Monroe,
New Yorker,
26 Mar. 2026
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An easy way to remember the difference is to think about the animals' actions.—
Rachel Barber,
USA Today,
25 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The loss of books is minor, almost trivial, in light of all the horrors and violence unleashed by this senseless war, but the potential loss of these books is a sad reminder that we’re all affected and implicated in America’s savage flailings.—
James Folta,
Literary Hub,
17 Mar. 2026
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Conan O'Brien hit almost every note on Sunday — savage, playful, heartfelt and dumb.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Even gold, which has been one of the investment world’s worst losers through the war, rose.—
Stan Choe,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Mar. 2026
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The Washington Consensus was traditionally wary of developing countries picking winners and losers, erecting trade barriers and subsidizing favored industries.—
Editorial Board,
Washington Post,
24 Mar. 2026
Noun
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This season takes a hellish turn, as our caveman protagonist encounters undead and other paranormal enemies.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
23 Jan. 2026
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This old-style Bavarian beer hall can accommodate all fans of Germanic cuisine with jäger schnitzel, wild-boar sausages and a baked pork shank that looks like something a caveman would thomp a dinosaur with.—
Sal Pizarro,
Mercury News,
19 Jan. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Neanderthal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/Neanderthal. Accessed 27 Mar. 2026.
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