caveman

noun

1. 1

   An early human or closely related species, popularly held to reside in caves.

   The political cartoon showed the politician as a caveman, clubbing the budget depicted as a mammoth.

   CAVEMAN DIET The creators of this nutrition plan believe that cavemen and cavewomen were lean and healthy because of the all-natural foods they ate.

   And who could forget those ads that featured sophisticated cavemen who were insulted—in a parody on political correctness—by “insensitive” offenders who implied that some action was “so easy, a caveman could do it.”

   For, in essence, the caveman concept implies the abhorrent—undignified human bestiality and a disquieting association with apelike ancestors. Cavemen have represented Darwin′s repugnant evolutionary ideals and even suggest civilisation′s tenuousness.

2. 2

   figurativeA person with backward, primitive behavior, opinions, or interests.

   You think your Caveman is always chasing you for sex. Well, he is.

3. 3

   figurativeA person with backward, primitive behavior, opinions, or interests. A brutish person, one who behaves in a rough, uncivilized way.

   The football squad was made up of cavemen who were responsible for trashing many a locker room.

   "Bless you, he would think nothing of throwing you downstairs if you have a disagreement. He is a primitive cave-man in a lounge suit. I can see him with a club in one hand and a jagged bit of flint in the other."

4. 4

   figurativeA person with backward, primitive behavior, opinions, or interests. Someone, especially a man, who has regressive, old-fashioned attitudes, particularly with regard to women; someone opposed to change or modernity.

   Old Sven is a bit of a caveman; he figures giving women the right to vote was a bad idea.

   Pat is a real caveman when it comes to tech, and refuses to get a smartphone.

Forms

plural

cavemen