Neanderthal
6 synonyms and 1 antonym for Neanderthal, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A member of an extinct species of early human closely related to modern humans.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. noun
A member of an extinct species of early human closely related to modern humans.
“Scientists found Neanderthal remains in a cave in France.”
Neandertal
Neanderthalian
2. adj
Old-fashioned, crude, or resistant to change.
“His neanderthal attitudes toward women shocked his colleagues.”
Opposites
Etymology
Named after the Neander Valley in Germany, where the first fossils were discovered in 1856. The valley itself was named for 17th-century hymn writer Joachim Neander.
Full origin of Neanderthal →Frequently asked questions
What does “Neanderthal” mean?
The word “Neanderthal” means a member of an extinct species of early human closely related to modern humans. In plain terms, either the extinct early human species, or (informally, often as an insult) someone seen as primitive or backward in their attitudes.
How do you pronounce “Neanderthal”?
“Neanderthal” is pronounced nee-AN-duh-tahl (/niˈæn.dɚˌθɑl/ in IPA).
How do you use “Neanderthal” in a sentence?
Here is “Neanderthal” used in a sentence: “Scientists found Neanderthal remains in a cave in France.”
What part of speech is “Neanderthal”?
Depending on how it is used, “Neanderthal” can be a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “Neanderthal” come from?
The word “Neanderthal” dates back to around 1856 and comes from German. Named after the Neander Valley in Germany, where the first fossils were discovered in 1856. The valley itself was named for 17th-century hymn writer Joachim Neander.
How many meanings does “Neanderthal” have?
“Neanderthal” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a member of an extinct species of early human closely related to modern humans.
