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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of Neanderthal
Ashley Strickland, CNN, 14 Sep. 2024
In 2015, archaeologists discovered the remains of a Neanderthal in a cave in southern France.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Sep. 2024
The Naked Neanderthal Before joining Discover Magazine, Paul spent over 20 years as a science journalist, specializing in U.S. life science policy and global scientific career issues.
—Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 11 Sep. 2024
Understanding that Neanderthal communities were potentially smaller and insular could be critical to understanding their extinction.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 11 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for Neanderthal 
Noun
That isolation put Neanderthals at an evolutionary disadvantage and could have led to their demise.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN, 14 Sep. 2024
In 2015, archaeologists discovered the remains of a Neanderthal in a cave in southern France.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Sep. 2024
The Naked Neanderthal Before joining Discover Magazine, Paul spent over 20 years as a science journalist, specializing in U.S. life science policy and global scientific career issues.
—Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 11 Sep. 2024
Understanding that Neanderthal communities were potentially smaller and insular could be critical to understanding their extinction.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 11 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for Neanderthal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for Neanderthal
Noun
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Kadyrov’s fighters were instrumental in the final assault on Donetsk Airport in January, having fought for months to capture the wrecked hulk of buildings that once made up the passenger terminals.Nicholas Waller, Foreign Affairs, 1 Apr. 2015
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There were literal piles of dead and mangled Russians around the smoldering hulks.David Axe, Forbes, 1 Oct. 2024
Noun
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Lucius comes into his uneasy heritage after defeat in the erroneous homeland where he is considered a barbarian.Armond White, National Review, 6 Dec. 2024
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Given the dearth of direct evidence for stimulant use among the barbarians of Europe, the researchers decided to look for indirect clues.Jason Fields, Newsweek, 4 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Wondering how to get out of Dodge without being rude?Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 8 Dec. 2024
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The officers weren't rude, angry, or insolent — as required of a battery conviction — and used their training and legal authority to do their jobs.Ryan Murphy, The Indianapolis Star, 2 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Christmas in America has long been about receiving presents from Santa for being nice, or at worst, getting a lump of coal for being naughty.Jennifer Borresen, USA TODAY, 13 Dec. 2024
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Make cream cheese mixture: Beat together cream cheese, mayonnaise, sour cream, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire, hot sauce, and garlic powder in a large bowl with an electric mixer on low speed until well combined and no lumps remain, 1 to 2 minutes.Giovanna Vazquez, Southern Living, 8 Dec. 2024
Noun
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In deepest Siberia, where winds blow cold and poachers reduce wild animals to the brink of extinction, an unlikely tale of tiger romance is warming hearts and reinvigorating faith in species reintroduction.Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 Dec. 2024
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The zoo also temporarily suspended visitors' activities of directly contacting the animals.Charna Flam, People.com, 13 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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The 2023 grand marshal is former Arizona Democratic congresswoman Gabby Giffords, gravely wounded in a savage mass shooting in 2011 that also killed six people.Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 27 Dec. 2022
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As savage Arctic cold was getting ready to surge south across North America, vivid imagery based on data from weather models showed us what was going to happen.Tom Yulsman, Discover Magazine, 27 Dec. 2022
Noun
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However, as with any rapidly evolving technology, there will be winners and losers.Adam Sarhan, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024
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Reporters dutifully type up the winners and losers on their flights home.Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 13 Dec. 2024
Noun
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The caveman bit allows the characters free rein to get extremely silly, and their disgust for Squidward’s clarinet-playing is immortal.Barry Levitt, Vulture, 27 Aug. 2024
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Now it's known as the bulletproof diet, paleo, caveman, Atkins, or the ketogenic diet.Outside Online, Outside Online, 17 July 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Neanderthal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/Neanderthal. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.
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