1
as in rudimentary
belonging to or characteristic of an early level of skill or development
primitive wooden tools were used before the Iron Age
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in ancient
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 & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in naive
lacking in worldly wisdom or informed judgment
her taste in art was still primitive, but she knew schlock when she saw it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in barbarian
Related Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of primitive
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Jan. 2026
Jacob’s Well Natural Area offers many activities, including hiking along both primitive and accessible trails, geocaching, audio tours, birdwatching and wildlife-watching, and a children’s play area.
—Alexis Simmerman, Austin American Statesman, 10 Jan. 2026
Quanta Magazine, 1 Aug. 2024
Meanwhile, humans have regressed into being primitives that the apes hunt for sport, or feed out of pity from beside their campfire.
—EW.com, 2 Nov. 2023
See All Example Sentences for primitive
Adjective
The 56-room property, which sits on a sliver of prime cliff side real estate above the Bay of Positano, is a primitive Eden doused in fragrant flora and citrus trees.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Jan. 2026
Jacob’s Well Natural Area offers many activities, including hiking along both primitive and accessible trails, geocaching, audio tours, birdwatching and wildlife-watching, and a children’s play area.
—Alexis Simmerman, Austin American Statesman, 10 Jan. 2026
Noun
It can be used to achieve a lot of other cryptographic primitives.
—Quanta Magazine, 1 Aug. 2024
Meanwhile, humans have regressed into being primitives that the apes hunt for sport, or feed out of pity from beside their campfire.
—EW.com, 2 Nov. 2023
See All Example Sentences for primitive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for primitive
Adjective
-
Early warning is rudimentary and community liaison mechanisms are flimsy.—
Obi Anyadike,
semafor.com,
26 Jan. 2026
-
The federal student loan program lacks even rudimentary safeguards common in the private sector.—
Editorial,
Boston Herald,
25 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Lawyers working on their behalf filed a petition for a writ of habeas corpus, an ancient judicial principle forbidding the government from holding anyone in custody without providing a legally tenable reason for doing so.—
A.O. Scott,
New York Times,
3 Feb. 2026
-
Long one of the most beautiful ways to preserve produce, candying has existed in some form as far back as ancient China and Rome.—
Hannah Walhout,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
3 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The naive notion that America protects its own has remained largely intact, until the current administration declared that anyone who’s not with them is against them.—
Lorraine Ali,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Jan. 2026
-
So like Dorthy Gale, Gail is a naive young girl from Kansas.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Per this year’s edition of AIR MAIL’s annual Over-Under List, caviar bumps—where barbarians (TikTokers) lick precious fish eggs off the back of their hands like table salt before a gag-inducing tequila shot—are out!—
Air Mail,
Air Mail,
20 Dec. 2025
-
We were inspired by their outrageous VHS cover art that promised epic tales of heroic barbarians rescuing buxom babes from giant monsters.—
Bear McCreary,
HollywoodReporter,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Land is a primal word, primordial even, like lava.—
Tommy Orange,
Condé Nast Traveler,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Weisz gives two of her best performances — aggressive and sinister here, meek and contemplative there — to craft a diabolical portrait of primal codependency.—
Declan Gallagher,
Entertainment Weekly,
30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
In such a world, simple answers won’t do; only the courage to ask the hardest questions will push us forward.—
Daphne Koller,
Big Think,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Knox, who committed to wrestle at Rutgers University, and his dad were initially charged with simple assault for purposely/knowingly causing bodily injury after a brawl broke out at Collingswood High School on February.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The Urus, a snarling, spitting savage dressed up in an orange tuxedo, will cause a commotion at the supermarket, gym and park.—
Josh Max,
Forbes.com,
16 Jan. 2026
-
Brutal, savage, and gory, this movie follows a home invasion on Christmas Eve where a mysterious woman (Béatrice Dalle) tries to steal an unborn baby right out of another woman's (Alysson Paradis) pregnant belly.—
Huntley Woods,
Entertainment Weekly,
19 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
Officials recently flagged signs at Big Bend National Park in Texas that referenced geology, fossils, and prehistoric history, some of which were written in both Spanish and English.—
Outside,
Outside,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Each time the movie cuts back to its prehistoric section is a welcome relief.—
Siddhant Adlakha,
Variety,
27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Primitive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/primitive. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.
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