primitive
17
5.9
- adjective
- /ˈprɪmɪtɪv/
:
primitivo
- The museum displayed primitive tools that our ancestors used for hunting and gathering, showcasing their ingenuity.
- primitive art
- primitive artists
Examples
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Many people admire the primitive designs of ancient pottery for their unique charm and simplicity.
-
Their mixture of the primitive with the classical is irresistible.
-
You also have strength, which we lack, in music, dance, and primitive art.
Academic text (2017) -
The experience of playing a primitive instrument was both physical and spiritual.
Academic text (2011) -
It's a primitive drawing etched in the wall over there.
-
The pottery was plain and primitive, somber with its dark glazes, almost rough on the surface.
Fiction book (1996) -
The artist's painting was beautifully primitive, with bold colors and simple forms that captured raw emotion.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Compounds
- Slur
1
8.9
A person from an early stage of human society now seen as outdated and offensive
- Specialized
1
6.7
Work made by people without formal art training in a simple, direct style
- Specialized
Seeing someone as completely perfect and without faults to protect yourself emotionally
How Naive
Surface Forms
Etymology
Primitive for art also goes back to primus 'first', used for work made before or outside formal rules. That's why primitive art feels simple and direct, with a plain, honest style.