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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However, with even modern imaging technology, these rudimentary decoys are easily detected as fakes and hence less useful.—
Vikram Mittal,
Forbes,
3 Mar. 2025
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It's currently billed as being capable of rudimentary tasks like loading cargo, and moving cases around warehouses.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
26 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Those obsessed with history will want to immerse themselves in the historic district where there’s still a square moat and remnants of ancient walls, as well as over 300 Buddhist temples scattered throughout the entire city.—
Nicole Kliest,
Vogue,
2 Mar. 2025
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Paleontologist shares discovery of massive dinosaur footprint on beach Joe Thompson, a paleontologist from the U.K., goes into detail about finding a 3-foot Iguanodon footprint along the Isle of Wight, along with other ancient fossils.—
Khloe Quill,
Fox News,
1 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Neither was it based on wishful thinking or naive optimism.—
Matthew Scogin,
Forbes,
28 Feb. 2025
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As that incident indicated, Oded was not naive about Palestinian terrorism.—
Gershom Gorenberg,
The Atlantic,
26 Feb. 2025
Noun
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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
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The prehistoric markings were found in White Sands National Park by a team from Bournemouth University.—
Tessa Solomon for ARTnews,
Robb Report,
5 Mar. 2025
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To be clear, there was not a prehistoric, or even historic woolly mouse.—
Susan Young,
People.com,
4 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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But with a change as simple as adding a bistro table and chairs, these cozy nooks become inviting oases to use regularly.—
Miles Walls,
Better Homes & Gardens,
1 Mar. 2025
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But there's a simple—and so easy-to-remember—method that will make the packing process easy every time: the 5-4-3-2-1 method.—
Alesandra Dubin,
Southern Living,
1 Mar. 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
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The title track begins with pummeling percussion, then a primal cry from Juchniewicz.—
Hannah Edgar,
Chicago Tribune,
19 Feb. 2025
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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 13 Mar. 2025.
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