superhuman

[ soo-per-hyoo-muhnor, often, -yoo- ]

adjective

1. above or beyond what is human; having a higher nature or greater powers than humans have:

   a superhuman being.

2. exceeding ordinary human power, achievement, experience, etc.:

   a superhuman effort.

superhuman

/ ˌsuːpəˈhjuːmən /

adjective

1. having powers above and beyond those of mankind
2. exceeding normal human ability or experience

Derived Forms

• ˌsuperhuˈmanity, noun
• ˌsuperˈhumanly, adverb

Other Words From

• su·per·hu·man·i·ty [soo-per-hyoo-, man, -i-tee, -yoo-], super·human·ness noun
• super·human·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of superhuman¹

From the New Latin word superhūmānus, dating back to 1625–35. See super-, human

Example Sentences

While the company never released the data set, the system’s superhuman performance elevated deep learning to the de facto method for analyzing faces.

From MIT Technology Review

For the first time since I started playing this series 20 years ago, I felt a little scared, despite the fact that I am Agent 47, a genetically enhanced superhuman created to be the most efficient killer of man.

From Washington Post

Unfortunately, the minds of superhuman AIs are currently out of reach to us humans.

From Singularity Hub 

In a computer game, software can experiment endlessly, playing over and over again, improving gradually until it reaches superhuman skill, without causing any real-world harm.

From Fortune

DeepMind has already notched up a streak of wins, showcasing AIs that have learned to play a variety of complex games with superhuman skill, from Go and StarCraft to Atari’s entire back catalogue.

From MIT Technology Review

Special suits allow you and your team to hover over gaps and jump to superhuman heights.

From The Daily Beast

In both cases, Lawrence is reacting authentically in the face of a public that expects actresses to be superhuman.

From The Daily Beast

But tech geeks, with their superhuman ability to manipulate ones and zeroes, do.

From The Daily Beast

At times, among her crowd of devotees, Clinton can sound almost superhuman.

From The Daily Beast

As famous as the physician “god complex” may be, presumably nobody really thinks doctors have actual superhuman powers.

From The Daily Beast

Yet if there is a measure of untruth in such pretty flatteries, one needs to be superhuman in order to condemn them harshly.

From Project Gutenberg

He does not know who she is; he has performed almost superhuman exploits to win her; but there is an obstacle to their union.

From Project Gutenberg

You set yourself a great task years ago, an almost superhuman task.

From Project Gutenberg

A look of determination, arguing some superhuman resolve taken at the moment of death, or—can you read that face for me?

From Project Gutenberg

I am certain that he is one of those devils who war against mankind, endowed by their Prince Satan with superhuman power.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• extraordinary
• godlike
• heroic
• supernatural
• uncanny