inhuman

adjective

in·​hu·​man (ˌ)in-ˈhyü-mən How to pronounce inhuman (audio)
-ˈyü-
1
a
: lacking pity, kindness, or mercy : savage
an inhuman tyrant
b
: cold, impersonal
his usual quiet, almost inhuman courtesyF. Tennyson Jesse
c
: not worthy of or conforming to the needs of human beings
inhuman living conditions
2
: of or suggesting a nonhuman class of beings
inhumanly adverb
inhumanness noun

Examples of inhuman in a Sentence

He let out an inhuman moan. She had an almost inhuman desire to succeed.
Recent Examples on the Web Murphy plays a slender and soulful bicycle courier who wakes up from a coma to discover that the world has been upended by a virus that turns people into inhuman, ravenous monsters. Danny Horn, EW.com, 7 Mar. 2024 Under their penetrating gaze, no mother or son is inhuman, and neither is unscathed. Mark Harris Keita Morimoto, New York Times, 27 Feb. 2024 Tempe has banned a local nonprofit from hosting a long-running event to feed the homeless in city parks for at least a year, a move that city leaders said is about permitting rules and resident safety, but local activists are decrying it as an inhuman effort to force homeless people out of Tempe. Sam Kmack, The Arizona Republic, 23 Jan. 2024 Rather than dampening their musicality, the ridiculous gags and uncouth humor adds another layer to the duo’s performances and humanizes their seemingly inhuman dexterity. Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 19 Jan. 2024 As the world struggles to make sense of Hamas’ horrific massacre of 1,200 innocent people and more than 25,000 people killed in Israel’s subsequent massive attack on Gaza, inhuman brutality can seem completely inevitable. David Super, Baltimore Sun, 29 Jan. 2024 Tech’s inhuman pace and its limitlessness have warped us. Jessica Dulong, CNN, 31 Jan. 2024 The experts were Alice Jill Edwards, special rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment and Morris Tidball-Binz, special rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary, or arbitrary executions. Mike Brest, Washington Examiner, 9 Jan. 2024 Thank the Process, which involves an almost inhuman work ethic and energy level. Brian O'Keefe, Fortune, 11 Jan. 2024

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

Word History

Etymology

Middle English inhumayne, from Middle French & Latin; Middle French inhumain, from Latin inhumanus, from in- + humanus human

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of inhuman was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near inhuman

Cite this Entry

“Inhuman.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inhuman. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

inhuman

adjective
in·​hu·​man (ˈ)in-ˈhyü-mən How to pronounce inhuman (audio)
-ˈyü-
1
a
: lacking pity or kindness : savage
b
: lacking human warmth : impersonal
c
: not fit for human needs
inhuman conditions
2
: unlike what is typically human
an inhuman cry
inhumanly adverb
inhumanness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on inhuman

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