Synonyms of primitive
74 similar words · 2 opposite words
Another word for primitive is radical. Other synonyms of primitive are primitive word, radical word, incipient, nascent and primary.
Synonyms and similar words for primitive
nounAn original or primary word; a word not derived from another, as opposed to derivative.
- primitive word
- radical
- radical word
adjectiveOf or pertaining to the beginning or origin, or to early times; original; primordial; primeval...
adjectiveOf or pertaining to or harking back to a former time; old-fashioned; characterized by simplicity.
adjectiveCrude, obsolete.
- rudimentaryBasic; minimal; with less than, or only the minimum, necessary.
- undevelopedNot developed or used.
- antiquatedOld-fashioned, out of date.
- outworn
- crudeCharacterized by simplicity, especially something not carefully or expertly made.
- garagelike figurativelyRough and unfinished.
- roughCrude; unrefined.
- rudeUndeveloped, unskilled, inelegant.
- rudimentalRudimentary.
- unrefinedCrude, raw or unprocessed.
- anachronisticErroneous in date; containing an anachronism; in a wrong time; not applicable to or not appropriate for the time.
- antediluvianOf attitudes, ideas, etc.: extremely old-fashioned, especially to a laughable extent; antiquated.
- antique
- archaic
- backwardLacking progressive or enlightened thought; outdated.
- behind the timesOut of date; old-fashioned; obsolete; outmoded; outdated.
- cobwebbed figuratively
- cobwebby figuratively
- dated
- defunctNo longer in use or active, nor expected to be again.
- desueteDisused; out of use.
- discontinued
- disusedNo longer in use.
- dootsie UK, dialectal
- elderlyOf an object, being old-fashioned or frail due to aging.
- extinctOf customs, ideas, laws and legal rights, offices, organizations, languages, etc.: no longer existing or in use...
- expired
- fossilized
- HavishamesqueStuck in the past; also, refusing to accept change or failure.
- hoary figurativelyOld or old-fashioned; trite.
- idleNot engaged in any occupation or employment; unemployed; inactive; doing nothing in particular.
- Miss HavishamesqueSynonym of Havishamesque.
- mouldy figurativelyShowing signs of neglect; disused.
- obsolete
- old
- oldfangledOld-fashioned.
- old-fashionedOf an object, outdated or no longer in vogue.
- old schoolNow often old-school: characteristic of a method for accomplishing a task, a style, or a way of thinking that was...
- outdated
- outmodedObsolete.
- out of date
- out of fashionUnfashionable, not in fashion.
- parachronisticBelonging to an earlier time; too old to be used; primitive; out of date.
- passé
- superannuatedObsolete, antiquated.
- superseded
- unemployedHaving no use, not doing work.
- unoccupied
- venerableAncient, antiquated or archaic.
- workless
- antediluvial rareAntiquated.
adjectiveNot derived from another of the same type.
- imprimitiveNot primitive.
adjectiveMost recent common ancestor (often hypothetical) of.
Opposite of primitive
adjectiveOriginal; primary; radical; not derived.
Meaning of primitive
- noun An original or primary word; a word not derived from another, as opposed to derivative.
- noun A member of a primitive society.
- noun Primitive or primeval nature; the innate, instinctive element within a person; the deep, instinctive, precultural layer of human nature.
primitive in other languages
Questions about synonyms of primitive
- What is another word for primitive?
- Primitive has 74 synonyms on Word.ws, such as radical, primitive word, radical word, incipient, nascent, primary, beginning and commencing.
- What is the opposite of primitive?
- The opposite of primitive is derived. Other antonyms of primitive are derivative.
- What does primitive mean?
- Primitive means an original or primary word; a word not derived from another, as opposed to derivative.
Source and license
Adapted from Wiktionary: primitive (page history and authors) and the entries of the words listed. Text available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Word.ws grouped the synonyms and antonyms by meaning and added links. Wiktionary data of 2026-09-02.
Last updated:
Cite this page: “Synonyms of primitive.” Word.ws, https://word.ws/synonyms/primitive. Based on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.