adjective
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Also: inhumane. lacking humane feelings, such as sympathy, understanding, etc; cruel; brutal
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not human
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of inhuman
First recorded in 1475–85; from Latin inhūmānus; replacing late Middle English inhumain, from Middle French, from Latin; see origin at in- 3, human
Compare meaning
How does inhuman compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
If someone behaves in a way that shows no compassion, you could describe that person and his or her actions as inhuman. A teacher who assigns six hours of homework every night might be seen as inhuman. When people talk about inhuman things, they're usually not talking about dogs or Martians — beings that are literally not human. Rather, this word involves humans who show no regard for their fellow humans. Murdering another person is an inhuman act; slavery is an inhuman institution. Inhuman acts can also be described as inhumane, meaning “heartless and cruel.”
Vocabulary lists containing inhuman
Sounder
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Zlata’s Diary
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Stormbreaker
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The mists are known to trigger a latent Inhuman gene in depowered mutants, human beings who possess a superhuman genetic trait.
From Salon • Jun. 7, 2022
Inhuman eagerness to please is part of their sales pitch.
From Slate • Aug. 23, 2021
That same year, he released an EP produced by Marley Marl, “Make the Music With Your Mouth, Biz,” calling himself the Inhuman Orchestra.
From New York Times • Jul. 16, 2021
And Chloe Bennet provides the voice for the Inhuman S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Daisy “Quake” Johnson — the same character she plays on ABC’s Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
From The Verge • Mar. 8, 2019
Inhuman as he is, he would not kill her.
From Jack Sheppard A Romance by Ainsworth, William Harrison
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
