inhuman

[in-hyoo-muhn, -yoo-]

adjective

1. lacking qualities of sympathy, pity, warmth, compassion, or the like; cruel; brutal.

   an inhuman master.

   Synonyms: brutish, savage, hard, callous, cold, unsympathetic, unfeeling

2. not suited for human beings.

3. not human.

inhuman

/ ɪnˈhjuːmən /

adjective

1. Also: inhumane. lacking humane feelings, such as sympathy, understanding, etc; cruel; brutal

2. not human

Other Word Forms

• inhumanly adverb
• inhumanness noun
• inhumanely adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of inhuman¹

First recorded in 1475–85; from Latin inhūmānus; replacing late Middle English inhumain, from Middle French, from Latin; in- ³, human

Example Sentences

"They're travelling in inhuman conditions," fretted the mayor of Mbandaka, who had come to the riverbank to check the boat was not overloaded and the passengers would be provided with life jackets.

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Someone who says ‘I’m against abortion, but I’m in favor of the inhuman treatment of immigrants who are in the United States’—I don’t know if that’s pro-life.”

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“Insidious tactics, an inhuman thirst for human pain.”

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Contemporary reports by US government officials recount more incidents of "arbitrary and unlawful killings, kidnappings, torture and other cruel and inhuman or degrading treatment."

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In a discussion paper, the commission says that uncertainty could result in "inhuman and degrading treatment".

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Related Words

• barbaric 
• barbarous 
• brutal 
• cold-blooded 
• cruel 
• hateful 
• heartless 
• inhumane 
• malicious 
• merciless 
• ruthless 
• savage 
• vicious