superhuman

[soo-per-hyoo-muhn, -yoo-]

adjective

1. above or beyond what is human; having a higher nature or greater powers than humans have.

   a superhuman being.

2. exceeding ordinary human power, achievement, experience, etc..

   a superhuman effort.

superhuman

/ ˌsuːpəˈhjuːmən /

adjective

1. having powers above and beyond those of mankind

2. exceeding normal human ability or experience

Other Word Forms

• superhumanity noun
• superhumanness noun
• superhumanly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of superhuman¹

From the New Latin word superhūmānus, dating back to 1625–35. See super-, human

Example Sentences

Nobody expected Johnson - or any of his team-mates - to scale those same superhuman heights as Bale, but the former Real Madrid superstar's retirement in January 2023 created a void.

Read more on BBC

The core group is facing a relentless grind, racing to keep pace with a seemingly endless cycle of disruption in pursuit of systems with superhuman intelligence.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Similar, yet clearly distinct, the two share a flair for the dramatic and an energy that feels almost superhuman.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

In the latest adventure, Obelix -- the menhir delivery man with superhuman strength -- suffers a particularly bad bout of "saudade", and at one point laments: "I'm feeling down while being overjoyed."

Read more on Barron's

Batson is among a group of core artificial-intelligence researchers and executives who are facing a relentless grind, racing to keep pace with a seemingly endless cycle of disruption in pursuit of systems with superhuman intelligence.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• extraordinary 
• godlike 
• heroic 
• supernatural 
• uncanny