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knuckle-dragging

knuckle-dragging

2 9.3
Crude and showing old, simple thinking that ignores new ideas
  • adjective
  • /ˈnʌkəlˌdræɡɪŋ/
  • Offensive
translation icon : retrógrado
  • There's reason to be hopeful for the future and that the knuckle-dragging, Stone Age-loving religious and political extremists will become less relevant each election cycle.

But we're never going to make a change by behaving like knuckle dragging idiots.

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Examples

  • I will enjoy reading more mouth-breathing, knuckle-dragging comments from you for years to come.

    Blog text (14)
  • So, yeah, there is still some knuckle-dragging going on.

    Blog text (4)
  • The men are knuckle-dragging Neanderthals who can't control themselves around the lead female character.

    Blog text (22)
  • But we're never going to make a change by behaving like knuckle dragging idiots.

  • It was not made up of pitchfork-carrying, knuckle-dragging, and semi-literate Neanderthals as they had been viciously portrayed.

    Blog text (11)
  • His knuckle-dragging behavior at the meeting showed that he lacked any understanding of modern ideas.

  • The film portrays a knuckle-dragging character who struggles to adapt to changing social norms.

  • Many found his knuckle-dragging comments offensive, as they reflected a crude and outdated mindset.

Synonyms

knuckleheaded
vsknuckle-dragging
  • Informal
1 8.4

Acting in a silly, thoughtless way

is about crude, primitive attitudes rather than mere thoughtless silliness
lumpen
vsknuckle-dragging
  • Offensive
9.9

Slow and crude in thinking and behavior

is about crude, primitive attitudes and lack of modern thinking

Antonyms

507 3.4

Able to think, understand, and learn new things

279 6.8

A machine or system with many advanced parts and careful design

5 5.1

A person who likes and understands art, music, and books

How Crude

barbaric
61 6.3
primitive
183 5.1
knuckle-dragging
  • Offensive
2 9.3
crude
43 4.6

Surface Forms

knuckle-dragging positive

Morphology

knuckle-dragging = knuckle + drag (semi-transparent) = knuckle + drag + ing

The immediate base describes the literal action 'knuckle' + 'drag' and the suffix '-ing' marks the action/participant, which is straightforward to interpret.

Etymology

Knuckle-dragging comes from the strong image of someone who drags their knuckles on the ground, like an ape, and dragging means 'pulling along'. So, to call someone knuckle-dragging is to say their actions or ideas are 'crude' or 'primitive' and not modern.