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
-
There, beside the shiplike hulk of the Basilica of San Petronio—which is a work in progress, the foundation stone having been laid in 1390, and which somebody really should get around to finishing one of these days—was a vast white screen.—
Anthony Lane,
New Yorker,
22 Sep. 2025 -
Like the port-holes of a hulk, Human spiders spin and spin, Backward down their threads so thin Dropping, each a hempen bulk.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
12 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
The Gauls had been described as barbarians by Julius Caesar and Livy, but now had become these Ur people, far more ancient and civilized than their ancient Roman detractors.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
16 Oct. 2025
-
Bautista will have the plum role of the immortal barbarian known as The Kurgen, who has been killing other immortals across the centuries in order to absorb their essence.—
Borys Kit,
HollywoodReporter,
7 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Moreover, dogs may react negatively to a person's actions, especially if someone is rude or unfriendly, particularly toward their owner.—
Maria Azzurra Volpe,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 Oct. 2025
-
Angry and rude to their neighbors while fearing the end of the republic?—
David M. Drucker,
Twin Cities,
12 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Then bit my own lips hard until the painful lump went away.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 Oct. 2025
-
But when the couple's teenage son washed the lump of material under the garden tap, the family realized there were gold coins present.—
Andrea Margolis,
FOXNews.com,
15 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The animals are difficult to survey, but experts estimate that the United States is now home to at least six million feral hogs, descendants of those early farm animals and Eurasian wild boars that arrived later.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
-
And fighting ants, bees, and other animals that raid bird feeders becomes a losing battle.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
15 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The ensuing carnage was swift and savage.—
Paul Solotaroff,
Rolling Stone,
12 Oct. 2025
-
Near the end of Robert Altman’s savage showbiz satire, Roberts appears briefly as herself, playing a part in a movie-within-a-movie about a woman on death row.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
10 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The Wanderers, three-time A-League Grand Final losers but AFC Champions League winners in 2014, are still smarting after being knocked out of last season’s Finals series by eventual finalists Melbourne Victory.—
Jack Bantock,
New York Times,
17 Oct. 2025
-
As the former Pentagon Papers whistleblower relates, all of us will be losers; sobering words that remain a catalyst for change.—
Randy McMullen,
Mercury News,
16 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Two slack-jawed, bare- foot drummers are wailing a caveman beat in unison—their syncopation and their short, efficient haircuts mark them as obvious members of a cult.—
Pat Blashill,
Rolling Stone,
28 Aug. 2025
-
Here are some surprising ways to stay safe What is the 'caveman method'?—
Greta Cross,
USA Today,
6 July 2025
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 19 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share