humanize

especially British, hu·man·ise

[hyoo-muh-nahyz, yoo-]

verb (used with object)

humanized, humanizing 

1. to make humane, kind, or gentle.

2. to make human.

verb (used without object)

humanized, humanizing 

1. to become human or humane.

humanize

/ ˈhjuːməˌnaɪz /

verb

1. to make or become human

2. to make or become humane

Other Word Forms

• humanization noun
• humanizer noun
• nonhumanized adjective
• overhumanize verb
• rehumanization noun
• rehumanize verb
• semihumanized adjective
• superhumanize verb (used with object)
• unhumanize verb (used with object)

Word History and Origins

Origin of humanize¹

First recorded in 1595–1605; human + -ize

Example Sentences

The magazine’s mission was to shine a light on the disease to humanize and restore dignity to its sufferers.

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My whole career, I’ve been pretty good at taking an unsavory character and humanizing him.

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The level of understanding she had of Alani, and Whitaker’s desire to humanize her, made a character who could have been seen as unrelatable, ignorant or even irritating into a delightfully self-aware fan favorite.

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Schwartz also said letting the officer speak could serve to “humanize” him to the jury.

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The effort to humanize Dahmer is both obscene and, sadly, textbook.

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Related Words

• civilize 
• tame