inhuman

[ in-hyoo-muhnor, often, -yoo- ]

adjective

1. lacking qualities of sympathy, pity, warmth, compassion, or the like; cruel; brutal:

   an inhuman master.

   Synonyms: unsympathetic, brutish, savage, hard, callous, cold, unfeeling

2. not suited for human beings.
3. not human.

inhuman

/ ɪnˈhjuːmən /

adjective

1. Alsoinhumaneˌɪnhjuːˈmeɪn lacking humane feelings, such as sympathy, understanding, etc; cruel; brutal
2. not human

Derived Forms

• ˌinhuˈmanely, adverb
• inˈhumanly, adverb
• inˈhumanness, noun

Other Words From

• in·human·ly adverb
• in·human·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of inhuman¹

First recorded in 1475–85; from Latin inhūmānus; replacing late Middle English inhumain, from Middle French, from Latin; in- ³, human

Example Sentences

In a close-to-human face, every inhuman trait becomes magnified.

From The Daily Beast

Last but not least, the Inhumans are a genetically advanced “inhuman race” that was formed via experimentation by the alien Kree.

From The Daily Beast

They, too, bear some responsibility for the scandal represented by these T-shirts mass-produced under inhuman conditions.

From The Daily Beast

His inhuman biceps and sultry hip pumping will ease any pain felt after hearing about his exit from the figure skating scene.

From The Daily Beast

Liberalism, the evolving attempt to fully express the human, was about to face an inhuman threat.

From The Daily Beast

By all the sounded consonants we have—“Inhuman Civil War;” the latter shorter, more significant, and more easily remembered.

From Project Gutenberg

For some twelve centuries the Holy Church carried out this inhuman policy.

From Project Gutenberg

There was a long stretch of wood country, where the wretch's most inhuman deeds had been located.

From Project Gutenberg

Suddenly, some common impulse born of the moment and the scene—of its inhuman ghostliness and grandeur—drew them to each other.

From Project Gutenberg

It is evidently religion; it is a zeal which renders inhuman, and which serves to cover the greatest infamy.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• barbaric
• barbarous
• brutal
• cold-blooded
• cruel
• hateful
• heartless
• inhumane
• malicious
• merciless
• ruthless
• savage
• vicious