cave man
Definition
Noun: 1. A prehistoric human: A person, especially from the Stone Age, who lived in a cave or a primitive dwelling. 2. A crude or primitive person: (Informal, often derogatory) A man who is perceived as being uncivilized, brutish, or having old-fashioned, stereotypically masculine attitudes.
Usage Examples
- Noun (Prehistoric human):
- Archaeologists found tools and paintings left behind by a cave man.
- The museum exhibit shows how a cave man might have lived.
- Noun (Crude person):
- He acted like a total cave man, grunting instead of talking. (Informal)
- That comment was so sexist; don't be such a cave man. (Informal, derogatory)
Advanced Usage
- "Caveman mentality": Refers to a simplistic, aggressive, or instinct-driven way of thinking, often used critically.
- The politician was accused of appealing to a caveman mentality with his violent rhetoric.
- Used as a compound modifier before a noun.
- He has a caveman approach to problem-solving. (i.e., simplistic and forceful)
Variants and Related Words
- Caveman (noun): The more common closed compound spelling of "cave man".
- Neanderthal (noun): 1. An extinct species of archaic human. 2. (Informal) A man who is crude or slow-witted.
- Troglodyte (noun): 1. A person who lives in a cave. 2. A hermit or a person regarded as reclusive, reactionary, or brutish.
Synonyms
- Prehistoric human: Stone-Ager, hominid, primitive human.
- Crude person (informal): brute, lout, oaf, Neanderthal (figurative), philistine.
Notes on Usage
- The term is often spelled as one word: caveman.
- When referring to actual prehistoric humans, the term is considered somewhat informal or popular, as opposed to scientific terms like or .
- The informal, derogatory use to describe a crude modern man is based on an outdated and inaccurate stereotype of prehistoric life. This usage is often considered offensive.
Noun
-
someone who lives in a cave
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