troglodyte means A member of a supposed prehistoric race that lived in caves or holes, a caveman. It carries an Arena rating of 1500, earned across 6 head-to-head judged battles.
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, troglodyte ranks #515 of 17,115 for Most Vivid Words, #670 of 17,114 for Most Satisfying to Say, #1,791 of 17,130 for Most Ingenious Words, #1,919 of 17,130 for Best Fossil-Poetry Words.
troglodyte is pronounced /ˈtɹɒɡlədaɪt/.
Why “troglodyte” is a great word
A person who lives in a cave, especially a member of a prehistoric people, or one regarded as reclusive or brutish. From the Latin Trōglodytae (plural), from the Ancient Greek τρωγλοδύτης (trōglodútēs), from τρώγλη (trṓglē, "hole, cave") + δύω (dúō, "to enter, dive into"). Unlike a "hermit," who withdraws for spiritual purpose, or a "neanderthal," which implies a specific primality, a troglodyte is defined by the habitation itself, a creature of the deep earth and shadow. It is the silhouette against the fire at the mouth of a limestone cavern, the reek of damp earth, the echo of footsteps in a sunless gallery—a stubborn choice to remain in a shelter that has become a self-constructed prison.
Etymology
Learned borrowing from Latin Trōglodytae (“cave-dwelling people”), from Ancient Greek τρωγλοδύτης (trōglodútēs, “one who dwells in holes”), from τρώγλη (trṓglē, “hole”) + δύω (dúō, “to get into”).
noun
- A member of a supposed prehistoric race that lived in caves or holes, a caveman.
- Anything that lives underground.e.g.“The cave was populated by albino scorpions, blind salamanders, and other troglodytes.”
- The Eurasian wren, Troglodytes troglodytes.
- A reclusive, reactionary or out-of-date person, especially if brutish.
- A person who chooses not to keep up to date with the latest software and hardware.
Words closest in meaning
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