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
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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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in barbarian
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of primitive
Mike Giuliano, Howard County Times, 23 June 2017
A lot of the campgrounds are primitive, and lack some common amenities - including water.
—Jamie Hale, OregonLive.com, 6 July 2017
EW.com, 2 Nov. 2023
But better reasons inhere in the rush of new ideas that have reinvigorated the science of paleontology and forced us to recast murky old primitives as efficient and worthy creatures in their own terms.
—Stephen Jay Gould, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2019
See All Example Sentences for primitive
Adjective
Constructed in front of the stone ruins of the Patapsco Female Institute Historic Park in Ellicott City, that caveman-evocative set provides a suitably primitive stomping ground for the monstrous Caliban.
—Mike Giuliano, Howard County Times, 23 June 2017
A lot of the campgrounds are primitive, and lack some common amenities - including water.
—Jamie Hale, OregonLive.com, 6 July 2017
Noun
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
But better reasons inhere in the rush of new ideas that have reinvigorated the science of paleontology and forced us to recast murky old primitives as efficient and worthy creatures in their own terms.
—Stephen Jay Gould, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2019
See All Example Sentences for primitive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for primitive
Adjective
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The Boys from Syracuse), this very ’90s version of the classic fairytale features eye-popping costumes and sets, adorably rudimentary VFX, and a truly unbelievable cast (Brandy!—
Vogue,
Vogue,
15 Feb. 2025
-
First signs of rudimentary Valentine notes began appearing much later, in the 1500s, according to Britannica.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA TODAY,
14 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Researchers in London recently uncovered a 2,000-year-old structure that once served as the hub of the bustling ancient city.—
Greta Cross,
USA TODAY,
19 Feb. 2025
-
Beyond partying planning there is safety, security, and not a small amount of property—often ancient—to protect.—
Andrew Sessa,
Robb Report,
18 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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But in the transactional world of Trump, Musk, and DOGE, the concept of career civil servants taking lower-paying, apolitical work to serve an intangible greater good is naive at best.—
Adam Chandler,
TIME,
20 Feb. 2025
-
The idea sounds simple, even naive: Fix the money, fix the world.—
Bryan Benson,
Forbes,
19 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Whatever the reason, barbarians likely used the spoons either to snort powdered substances, or to measure out a quantity to place into drinks like beer, or into pipes to be smoked.—
Joshua Rapp Learn,
Discover Magazine,
30 Jan. 2025
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It was called the Save Women’s Sports Act, conjuring an image of barbarians at the gate.—
Louisa Thomas,
The New Yorker,
19 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
The Musée de Préhistoire de Terra Amata was built on a prehistoric site near the old port dating back 400,000 years.—
Alison Gregor,
New York Times,
21 Feb. 2025
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Its reimagining acquires a true crime edge: as individual dinosaur remains unearthed by dinosaur hunters, thanks to cutting-edge science, experts work out how these prehistoric creatures lived, hunted, fought and died more accurately than ever before.—
John Hopewell,
Variety,
21 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Its simple style can be dressed up with your best evening wear or paired with casual outfits to be your next wardrobe staple.—
Caley Sturgill,
Southern Living,
17 Feb. 2025
-
Styled by Dani Levi, Kardashian wore a simple floor-length bodycon gown from Balenciaga Couture.—
Mikelle Street,
WWD,
17 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Often regarded by historians as a collection of savage tribes, the Scythians emerge as a pivotal force of the ancient world in this monumental history.—
The New Yorker,
The New Yorker,
30 Jan. 2023
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Nearly 32 years ago, Rodney King’s savage beating by police in Los Angeles prompted heartfelt calls for change.—
Aaron Morrison, Claudia Lauer and Adrian Sainz,
Anchorage Daily News,
29 Jan. 2023
Adjective
-
The title track begins with pummeling percussion, then a primal cry from Juchniewicz.—
Hannah Edgar,
Chicago Tribune,
19 Feb. 2025
-
Our thoughts untangle against its glow, lose the constraints of language, become primal.—
Murr Brewster,
The Christian Science Monitor,
19 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Primitive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/primitive. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
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