inhumanity

noun

in·​hu·​man·​i·​ty ˌin-(ˌ)hyü-ˈma-nə-tē 

-(ˌ)yü-

plural inhumanities

1

a

: the quality or state of being cruel or barbarous

b

: a cruel or barbarous act

2

: absence of warmth or geniality : impersonality

Synonyms

• atrociousness
• atrocity
• barbarity
• barbarousness
• brutality
• cruelness
• cruelty
• fiendishness
• heartlessness
• inhumanness
• sadism
• savageness
• savagery
• truculence
• viciousness
• wantonness

Examples of inhumanity in a Sentence

man's inhumanity to man has been a recurring theme in human history

Recent Examples on the Web

The media didn't talk about the inhumanity of it all, and didn't invoke fear of American life coming to a halt. —Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 3 Mar. 2025

Casting Fernanda Torres as a woman who refuses to be broken by devastating loss and inhumanity, this stirring true story, set against the backdrop of dictatorship, provides a direct link to Central Station, which starred Torres’ mother, Fernanda Montenegro. —Scott Feinberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 26 Feb. 2025

Presenting inhumanity in a contemporary style that draws us in, Shahn employed color and line to summon the viewer’s full attention. —airmail.news, 6 Jan. 2024

This distinction is what keeps Rawls’s view from lapsing into inhumanity. —Becca Rothfeld, Harper's Magazine, 2 Mar. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for inhumanity

• christianity
• humanity
• inanity
• insanity
• profanity
• urbanity
• sanity
• vanity

Kids Definition

inhumanity

noun

in·​hu·​man·​i·​ty ˌin-(ˌ)hyü-ˈman-ət-ē 

-(ˌ)yü-

plural inhumanities

: a cruel or barbarous act or attitude