primitive

1 belonging to or characteristic of an early level of skill or development primitive wooden tools were used before the Iron Age Synonyms crude, low, rude, rudimentary Related Words basic, simple, uncomplicated; homely, homespun, unsophisticated; early, embryonic, primeval, primordial; backward, underdeveloped, undeveloped; aged, ancient, antediluvian, antiquated, antique, dated, fusty, hoary, musty, obsolete, old, oldfangled, old-fashioned, old-time, out-of-date, outworn, passé, past, quaint, unmodernized Near Antonyms complex, complicated, intricate, involved, sophisticated; full-blown, grown, mature, matured, perfected, ripe, ripened; civilized, cultivated, enlightened, refined; contemporary, current, latest, mod, modern, modernistic, new, newfangled, new-fashioned, novel, now, present-day, space-age, state-of-the-art, supermodern, ultramodern, up-to-date Antonyms advanced, developed, evolved, high, higher, late

2 relating to or occurring near the beginning of a process, series, or time period a primitive period in church history when members still lived in communes Synonyms ancient, primal, primeval, early, primordialRelated Words budding, embryonic, germinal, infant; aged, age-old, antediluvian, antiquated, antique, dateless, hoary, old, prehistoric (also prehistorical); obsolete, outmoded, out-of-date, passéNear Antonyms advanced, complex, developed, evolved, high, higher; full-blown, full-fledged, full-scaleAntonyms late

3 lacking in worldly wisdom or informed judgment her taste in art was still primitive, but she knew schlock when she saw it Synonyms aw-shucks, dewy, dewy-eyed, green, ingenuous, innocent, naïf (or naif), naive, simple, simpleminded, uncritical, unknowing, unsophisticated, unsuspecting, unsuspicious, unwary, unworldly, wide-eyedRelated Words callow, childish, immature, inexperienced, raw; childlike, idealistic, impractical, unrealistic; believing, credulous, gullible (also gullable), susceptible, trustful, trusting, unguarded; beguiled, duped, gulled, tricked; careless, heedless, thoughtlessNear Antonyms critical, cynical, doubting, incredulous, skeptical, suspecting, suspicious, unconvinced; careful, cautious, guarded, leery (also leary), wary, watchful; down-to-earth, hardheaded, pragmatic (also pragmatical), realistic, sober; street-smart, streetwiseAntonyms cosmopolitan, experienced, knowing, sophisticated, worldly, worldly-wise