Neanderthal
noun
Ne·an·der·thal
nē-ˈan-dər-ˌtȯl 
-ˌthȯl
-ˌthȯl
nā-ˈän-dər-ˌtäl
plural Neanderthals
1
or less commonly Neandertal
nē-ˈan-dər-ˌtȯl
or Neanderthal man
or Neandertal man plural Neandertals or Neanderthal men or Neandertal men
: a hominid (Homo neanderthalensis synonym H. sapiens neanderthalensis) known from skeletal remains in Europe, northern Africa, and western Asia that lived from about 30,000 to 200,000 years ago
nā-ˈän-dər-ˌtäl
2
: a person who suggests a caveman in appearance, mentality, or behavior
… heckled by a bunch of Neanderthals …—
Bonitta Best
Bonitta BestBut the man is also not a Neanderthal. His mother was an English teacher, and her son quotes Henry David Thoreau …—Seth Emerson
Seth Emerson
Neanderthal
adjective
or less commonly Neandertal
Cite this Entry
“Neanderthal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Neanderthal. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
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Neanderthal
noun
Ne·an·der·thal
nē-ˈan-dər-ˌthȯl
-ˌtȯl
-ˌtȯl
nā-ˈän-dər-ˌtäl
1
or Neandertal
-ˌtȯl
: a primate mammal that belongs to the same family as human beings, lived from about 30,000 to 200,000 years ago, is known from skeletal remains in Europe, northern Africa, and western Asia, and is characterized especially by a stocky muscular build and prominent browridge
-ˌtäl
called also Neanderthal man
2
: one who suggests a caveman in appearance, behavior, or intelligence
Neanderthal
adjective
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