cave man
Americannoun
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a cave dweller, especially of the Stone Age.
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a man who behaves in a rough, primitive manner, especially toward women.
Etymology
Origin of cave man
First recorded in 1860–65
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
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
The teenage hero is among a few witnesses, including a Neanderthal cave man, a Roman legionary and the preteen daughter of a Princeton University professor, called before a tribunal representing three great galaxies.
From Washington Post ● Nov. 19, 2020
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
Before he jumped into the presidential race, Trump was seen as bombastic, vulgar, a bit of a buffoon and a cave man, but there was also, as Tina Brown put it, “a cheeky brio.”
From Seattle Times ● Nov. 5, 2016
Although saying nothing Henry had paid attention to what Paul had said about the ancient cave man, and now it was easy for his fancy to transform Ross into such a being.
From The Keepers of the Trail A Story of the Great Woods by Altsheler, Joseph A. (Joseph Alexander)
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
