inhuman

[ in-hyoo-muhn or, often, -yoo- ]

/ ɪnˈhyu mən or, often, -ˈyu- /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR inhuman ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

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

not suited for human beings.

not human.

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of inhuman

1475–85; < Latin inhūmānus; replacing late Middle English inhumain < Middle French < L. See in-³, human

SYNONYMS FOR inhuman

1. unfeeling, unsympathetic, cold, callous, hard, savage, brutish.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR inhuman ON THESAURUS.COM

Related formsin·hu·man·ly, adverbin·hu·man·ness, noun

Can be confusedinhuman inhumane

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for inhuman

In a close-to-human face, every inhuman trait becomes magnified.
Kevin Spacey Stars as a Frank Underwood-like Warmonger in ‘Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare’|Alec Kubas-Meyer|November 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Last but not least, the Inhumans are a genetically advanced “inhuman race” that was formed via experimentation by the alien Kree.
Inside Marvel’s Phase 3: How ‘The Avengers’ Cross Paths with Black Panther and the New Superheroes|Marlow Stern|October 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
His inhuman biceps and sultry hip pumping will ease any pain felt after hearing about his exit from the figure skating scene.
Movie Title Break-Up, Star Wars on the Slopes, and More Viral Videos|Ariana Dickey|February 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Liberalism, the evolving attempt to fully express the human, was about to face an inhuman threat.
Anne Frank’s Amsterdam|Russell Shorto|October 12, 2013|DAILY BEAST

At a minimum, he thrust food, cognac and blankets at the marchers—a final human gesture for those en route to an inhuman end.
Raoul Wallenberg’s World War II Heroism a Lesson for World Doing Nothing About Syria|Kati Marton|March 15, 2012|DAILY BEAST
These un-memoried heights are inhuman—or rather, irrelevant to humanity.
Letters from America|Rupert Brooke
And therefore although crime loses none of its evil character, punishment can lose all of its inhuman sting.
The Philosophy of Spinoza|Baruch de Spinoza
I should be an inhuman monster if I could keep grave and wise in your company!
Captain Desmond, V.C.|Maud Diver
You see that, as inhuman as I am, I do not forget who you are, and who I am.
The Knight of Malta|Eugene Sue
The one in the middle is the wicked monster Serles, and to his right and left stand his cruel wife and inhuman counsellor.
Tales and Legends of the Tyrol|A. von Gnther

British Dictionary definitions for inhuman

inhuman

/ (ɪnˈhjuːmən) /

adjective

Also: inhumane (ˌɪnhjuːˈmeɪn) lacking humane feelings, such as sympathy, understanding, etc; cruel; brutal

not human

Derived Formsinhumanely, adverbinhumanly, adverbinhumanness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for inhuman

inhuman

adj.

mid-15c., "cruel," from Latin inhumanus "inhuman, savage, cruel, rude, barbarous," from in- "not, opposite of" (see in- (1)) + humanus "human" (see human). Spelled inhumane till 18c. (see humane).