subhuman

[suhb-hyoo-muhn, -yoo-]

adjective

1. less than or not quite human.

2. almost human.

   In some respects, the porpoise is subhuman.

subhuman

/ sʌbˈhjuːmən /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or designating animals that are below man ( Homo sapiens ) in evolutionary development

2. less than human

Word History and Origins

Origin of subhuman¹

First recorded in 1785–95; sub- + human

Example Sentences

He uses the internet mostly to share crude videos and photos depicting Latinos as subhuman.

From Los Angeles Times

I tend to loathe the way these four-quadrant movies invent subhuman villains — robots, aliens, bug-things and the like — so that the good guys can bash their brains in without a moral tizzy.

From Los Angeles Times

“Month after month, Israel has treated Palestinians in Gaza as a subhuman group unworthy of human rights and dignity, demonstrating its intent to physically destroy them,” she continued.

From BBC

“After the war, people talked about it with the idea that the Nazis were subhuman monsters,” Max Heppner said.

From New York Times

He has openly expressed his contempt for subhuman vermin from s**thole countries poisoning the blood of our country.

From Salon

Related Words

• heartless