inhumane

I1N1H4U1M3A1N1E1
/ˌɪnhjuːˈmeɪn/

A form of inhuman — Of or pertaining to inhumanity and the indifferently cruel, sadistic or barbaric behavior it brings.

Similar
nonhumaneruthlesssadisticbarbarousbowellessbrutalcompassionlesscruel
Opposite
humane
OriginLatin inhūmānus →
Less commonScrabble 13
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Meanings

adjectiveinhumane (comparative more inhumane, superlative most inhumane)

comparative more inhumane · superlative most inhumane

  1. alternativeAlternative form of inhuman: lacking pity or compassion for misery and suffering; cruel, unkind.

    Herein thou haſt done good ſeruice to thy country: VVere all inhumaine ſlaues ſo ſerued as he, England would be ciuill, and from all ſuch dealings free.

    1593, anonymous author, The Life and Death of Iacke Straw […], →OCLC, Act I
    1 more example

    But the ruthless cleaning up of those streets and merciless treatment of gang members have triggered outrage and concern among human rights organizations, which have condemned Cecot as inhumane and unacceptable.

    2024 November 6, David Culver, Abel Alvarado, Evelio Contreras and Rachel Clarke, “Exclusive: Locking eyes with mass murderers in El Salvador”, in CNN

    Synonyms: nonhumane, ruthless, sadistic, barbarous, bowelless, brutal, compassionless, cruel · Antonyms: humane

Synonyms & antonyms

More synonyms by meaning

adjectivelacking and reflecting lack of pity or compassion

Similar
barbarousbrutalcruelbeastlybestialbrutecannibaliccoldcold-bloodedinhuman
Opposite
humane
Also see
barbarousbeastlybestialbowellessbrutalbrutebrutishcannibaliccoldcold-bloodedcompassionlesscrueldiabolicdiabolicalfellincessiveinclementinhumaninsensatemercilessnastynonhumanepitilessremorselessrottenroughshodruthlesssadisticsavagespitefultruculentunkindunmercifulunpitifulunpityingviciouswanton

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Latininhūmānus
  2. Englishinhumane

Originally a variant spelling and pronunciation of inhuman, ultimately from Latin inhūmānus; it appears to have died out 17c. but returned c. 1822, probably a reformation as a negative of humane from in- + humane.

More words from Latin

Full word history & related roots →

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with inhumane

mainagaindomainSpainpaincampaignchainmaintaingaintrainobtainremaincontainrainmaineexplainlaneplainjaneplaneWayneUkrainegrainstrain
All rhymes →
Cite this entry
APA

inhumane. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/inhumane

MLA

“inhumane.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/inhumane. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “inhumane,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/inhumane.

Source: inhumane on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.