: a strong virile man

Examples of he-man in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The conversation between him and David Carradine’s Bill, however, once again taps into that same steely, slow-and-low vibe that Marvin parlayed into an entire career, and was the he-man crown Madsen should have been the heir to. David Fear, Rolling Stone, 3 July 2025 But that sub-thread gets scrubbed quickly; wouldn’t want this he-man movie to get too girly. Stephanie Zacharek, TIME, 15 May 2024 But how can a diminutive performer like himself possibly dominate in this he-man competition? Pat Padua, Washington Post, 13 Sep. 2023 On each side of the globe are the nude, burly, he-men: on one side, Jupiter, awkwardly flying through the sky on an eagle, pushes the sphere; on the other, Jupiter’s brothers, Pluto and Neptune, stand as if at the edge of the opening in the ceiling, looking down. Monika Schmitter, Fortune, 21 Mar. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1758, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of he-man was in 1758

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Cite this Entry

“He-man.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/he-man. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

he-man

noun
ˈhē-ˈman
: a strong active man

More from Merriam-Webster on he-man

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