1
as in hulks
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 barbarians
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
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for Neanderthals
Noun
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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 -
The losers in Ole Miss-Georgia and Tennessee-Alabama will still have multiple opportunities for massive resume wins later this year, regardless of what happens this weekend.—
Tyler Everett,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Well, for one thing, get a load of the animals—an arkful of them prowling the poetry, frequently when they are least expected.—
Anthony Lane,
New Yorker,
13 Oct. 2025
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The animals there will still be fed and cared for, the zoo said.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
13 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Cut into potatoes, and scoop the flesh into a food processor; process until no lumps remain, about 1 minute.—
Melinda Salchert,
Southern Living,
15 Oct. 2025
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Brunicke will need to take some lumps, as any teenager playing defense in the NHL will learn.—
Josh Yohe,
New York Times,
10 Oct. 2025
Noun
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To be funny while playing a character who’s sweet and endearing (even when calling his friends idiots) is a skill, and Bad Bunny has it.—
Rima Parikh,
Vulture,
5 Oct. 2025
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For a bunch of idiots, this did not work out too badly.—
George Caulkin,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
Noun
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But the skunks know the insects are there.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
15 Oct. 2025
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Animals that typically carry rabies are bats, raccoons, skunks, and foxes.—
Jasmine Laws,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Sure enough, there was a cute little skunk staring back at me.—
Steven Sullivan,
The Conversation,
29 Sep. 2025
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Rabies can be found in many other wildlife species, including raccoons, skunks, coyotes and foxes.—
Katia Hetter,
CNN Money,
18 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Their success obviously wasn't permanent, given Hocus Pocus 2 sees the villains return — but hey, almost 30 years of banishment is a pretty good run.—
Gwen Ihnat,
Entertainment Weekly,
18 Oct. 2025
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Still, the Expos' downfall is not without its villains.—
Jon Paul Hoornstra,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Oct. 2025
Noun
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An extermination of the brutes in the Middle East, presided over by Obama’s successors, has been followed by a swift cancellation by Trumpian decree of the postracial age.—
Pankaj Mishra,
Harpers Magazine,
19 Sep. 2025
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Some are slow and heavy brutes that have tons of health while others are slightly but deal more damage.—
Gieson Cacho,
Mercury News,
18 Aug. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Neanderthals.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/Neanderthals. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.
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