caveman

noun

cave·​man ˈkāv-ˌman How to pronounce caveman (audio)
1
: a cave dweller especially of the Stone Age
2
: a man who acts in a rough or crude manner

Examples of caveman in a Sentence

married a caveman who spends all his free time swigging beer and watching sports on TV
Recent Examples on the Web But there wasn’t just one moment when a caveman picked up a hunk of pyrite, struck it against a rock, and marveled at the resulting sparks. Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi, Discover Magazine, 27 Feb. 2024 The caveman with the biggest club will generally win. Dan Goodin, Ars Technica, 19 July 2023 Your caveman boyfriend grunts to alert the rest of your tribe to this incredible discovery. Lana Schwartz, The New Yorker, 1 Nov. 2023 This find, supported by the cave’s array of distinctly Neanderthal stone tools, identifies Neanderthals as the cave art creators and adds to growing evidence that our closest relatives were more complex than their dim caveman stereotype might suggest. Brian Handwerk, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 June 2023 But while the musical lacks the show’s spontaneity, its antics are sillier; audiences will witness everything from cake-baking cavemen to boxing scones. Julia Binswanger, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Mar. 2023 To fail to pick up a rock, when the other caveman picked up a rock, did not forestall the arms race. Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 26 July 2023 The Takeaway Subterranean warfare has probably existed since the caveman days. Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, 27 June 2023 In the Impossible Foods spot, a man who is grilling food walks audiences through meat's past via song, starting with a caveman eyeing a mammoth. Erin Jensen, USA TODAY, 9 June 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'caveman.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1865, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of caveman was in 1865

Dictionary Entries Near caveman

Cite this Entry

“Caveman.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/caveman. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

caveman

noun
cave·​man ˈkāv-ˌman How to pronounce caveman (audio)
: a person living in a cave especially during the Stone Age
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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