Antonyms for primitive

Grammar : Adj

Spell : prim-i-tiv

Phonetic Transcription : ˈprɪm ɪ tɪv

Definition of primitive

Origin : late 14c., "of an original cause; of a thing from which something is derived; not secondary" (a sense now associated with primary), from Old French primitif "very first, original" (14c.) and directly from Latin primitivus "first or earliest of its kind," from primitus "at first," from primus "first" (see prime (adj.)).
Meaning "of or belonging to the first age" is from early 15c. Meaning "having the style of an early or ancient time" is from 1680s. In Christian sense of "adhering to the qualities of the early Church" it is recorded from 1680s. Of untrained artists from 1942. Related: Primitively.

adj ancient, original
adj barbaric, crude

Example sentences :

I'm a primitive woman, and Dick's a primitive man--and, thank God!
Extract from : « Viviette » by William J. Locke

For once, he had expressed that fondness in a primitive fashion, and he was glad.
Extract from : « Within the Law » by Marvin Dana

The accommodation was as primitive as are the weapons, and that was saying a good deal.
Extract from : « Camps, Quarters and Casual Places » by Archibald Forbes

This primitive arrangement, we are told, astonished all who heard it.
Extract from : « Heroes of the Telegraph » by J. Munro

He would reduce us to the example of the primitive ages, forsooth!
Extract from : « Joseph Andrews Vol. 1 » by Henry Fielding

Apart from the primitive age of the Catacombs, had Rome ever been Christian?
Extract from : « The Three Cities Trilogy, Complete » by Emile Zola

The whole climb of civilization had been away from these primitive things.
Extract from : « City of Endless Night » by Milo Hastings

It is this phase of primitive society that we have to investigate.
Extract from : « The Truth About Woman » by C. Gasquoine Hartley

The author of Primitive Culture (Mr. Tylor) rebels against this theory.
Extract from : « Storyology » by Benjamin Taylor

Their use was in its infancy, and their character was primitive.
Extract from : « With Manchesters in the East » by Gerald B. Hurst

Synonyms for primitive

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019