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primitive

prim·i·tive

primitive

 
 
pronunciation:
prih mih tihv
parts of speech:
adjective, noun
features:
Word Combinations (adjective, noun), Word History, Word Explorer
part of speech: adjective
definition 1: of, pertaining to, or at an early stage or undeveloped condition.
Life changed dramatically for primitive humans when they learned how to use fire.I have only a primitive understanding of how computers work.
synonyms:
incipient, pristine, undeveloped
antonyms:
advanced
similar words:
barbarian, beginning, early, elementary, first, formative, immature, initial, original, primal, primary, rudimentary
definition 2: of, pertaining to, or at the early stages of human or evolutionary development.
Primitive drawings found in caves give insight into the lives of early humans.
synonyms:
prehistoric, primeval
antonyms:
advanced, modern
similar words:
antediluvian, archaic, early, primordial, pristine
definition 3: simple; undeveloped; unsophisticated.
The camp consisted only of primitive cabins with no running water.
synonyms:
plain, unsophisticated
antonyms:
advanced, civilized, sophisticated
similar words:
artless, austere, barbarian, crude, immature, naive, natural, rude, simple, uncomplicated, undeveloped, unpolished, unrefined, unskilled
Word CombinationsSubscriber feature About this feature
 
part of speech: noun
definition 1: a human being of a primitive society.
similar words:
aborigine, barbarian, native, savage
definition 2: an unschooled or self-taught artist.
definition 3: a work of such an artist.
Word CombinationsSubscriber feature About this feature
derivations: primitively (adv.), primitiveness (n.)
Word History
Primitive comes from a Latin word that means "first or earliest of its kind."
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