cave man

American  

noun

1. a cave dweller, especially of the Stone Age.

2. a man who behaves in a rough, primitive manner, especially toward women.

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Etymology

Origin of cave man

First recorded in 1860–65

Example Sentences

Now, Arsenal is drawing unfavorable comparisons to the kings of anti-soccer and their cave man tactics—only this time, they’re at the opposite end of the table.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 26, 2025

One afternoon in Chicago, he meets an enigmatic young woman who reveals the earthshaking truth about the gigantic cave man he briefly glimpsed so long ago.

From Washington Post • Feb. 24, 2023

A plucky cave man and the rest of his tribe face a grave threat when Lord Nooth plans to transform their land into a giant mine.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 9, 2019

The window in my bathroom was a stained-glass rendering of a cave man overlooking a valley rich with jewel tones.

From New York Times • Oct. 1, 2018

It is like the cave man, to live in a hole in a cliff.

From Lola by Davis, Owen