inhuman

adjective

in·​hu·​man (ˌ)in-ˈhyü-mən 

-ˈyü-

1

a

: lacking pity, kindness, or mercy : savage

an inhuman tyrant

b

: cold, impersonal

his usual quiet, almost inhuman courtesy

—F. Tennyson Jesse

c

: not worthy of or conforming to the needs of human beings

inhuman living conditions

2

: of or suggesting a nonhuman class of beings

inhumanly adverb

inhumanness

(ˌ)in-ˈhyü-mən-nəs 

-ˈyü-

noun

Synonyms

• bitter
• brutal
• burdensome
• cruel
• excruciating
• grievous
• grim
• hard
• hardhanded
• harsh
• heavy
• murderous
• onerous
• oppressive
• rough
• rugged
• searing
• severe
• stiff
• tough
• trying

Examples of inhuman in a Sentence

He let out an inhuman moan.

She had an almost inhuman desire to succeed.

Recent Examples on the Web

Granted, her actions are not nearly as inhuman as Roddy, the only Slough House member who knows about River’s death, casually disconnecting his computer. —Scott Tobias, Vulture, 4 Sep. 2024

The jihadi embrace of suicide attacks on civilians convinced many Americans, including many policymakers, that the United States was facing an inhuman foe. —Monica Duffy Toft, Foreign Affairs, 10 Jan. 2023

The best speedruns reduce epic games meant to take dozens of hours to single-digit minutes through a combination of exploiting glitch-enabled shortcuts and inhuman skill. —Andy Greenberg, WIRED, 10 Aug. 2024

Its resemblance to an Italian palazzo made Shrubland Hall one of the most extravagant properties in England, and burnished the Middletons’ social standing—all at a hideous and inhuman cost. —Naomi Huffman, The Atlantic, 10 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English inhumayne, from Middle French & Latin; Middle French inhumain, from Latin inhumanus, from in- + humanus human

First Known Use

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

Kids Definition

inhuman

adjective

in·​hu·​man (ˈ)in-ˈhyü-mən 

-ˈyü-

1

a

: lacking pity or kindness : savage

b

: lacking human warmth : impersonal

c

: not fit for human needs

inhuman conditions

2

: unlike what is typically human

an inhuman cry

inhumanly adverb

inhumanness noun