inhuman

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

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.

Origin of inhuman

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

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

Can be confusedinhuman inhumane

Synonyms

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for inhuman

Contemporary Examples

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
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
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
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
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

Historical Examples

No; these telegraph poles are ugly and detestable, they are inhuman and indecent.
Alarms and Discursions
G. K. Chesterton
He had dared to hope he might avert an invasion by this inhuman horde.
Two Thousand Miles Below
Charles Willard Diffin
It meant so much—just that little change in your voice when you forgot to be inhuman.
The Education of Eric Lane
Stephen McKenna
The plane trembled like a live thing in the grip of inhuman forces.
The Floating Island of Madness
Jason Kirby
Your conduct is inhuman to thus persecute a helpless girl, your daughter.
The Night Riders
Ridgwell Cullum

British Dictionary definitions for inhuman

inhuman

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

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).

inhuman

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}inhuman

Synonyms

Related Words

Examples from the Web for inhuman

Contemporary Examples

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

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

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

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

At a minimum, he thrust food, cognac and blankets at the marchers—a final human gesture for those en route to an inhuman end.

Historical Examples

No; these telegraph poles are ugly and detestable, they are inhuman and indecent.

He had dared to hope he might avert an invasion by this inhuman horde.

It meant so much—just that little change in your voice when you forgot to be inhuman.

The plane trembled like a live thing in the grip of inhuman forces.

Your conduct is inhuman to thus persecute a helpless girl, your daughter.

inhuman

Word Origin and History for inhuman

adj.

Origin of inhuman