inhumane

adjective

in·​hu·​mane ˌin-(ˌ)hyü-ˈmān 

-(ˌ)yü-

: not humane : inhuman sense 1

the inhumane treatment of prisoners

inhumanely adverb

Synonyms

• affectless
• callous
• case-hardened
• cold-blooded
• compassionless
• desensitized
• hard
• hard-boiled
• hard-hearted
• heartless
• indurate
• inhuman
• insensate
• insensitive
• ironhearted
• merciless
• obdurate
• pachydermatous
• pitiless
• remorseless
• ruthless
• slash-and-burn
• soulless
• stony
• stoney
• stonyhearted
• take-no-prisoners
• thick-skinned
• uncharitable
• unfeeling
• unmerciful
• unsparing
• unsympathetic

Examples of inhumane in a Sentence

inhumane wardens who regularly ignored the crying children in their care

an inhumane dictator who tortured and murdered thousands of his own people

Recent Examples on the Web

Reports of inhumane conditions inside Krome — where detainees face overcrowding and lack necessities such as beds, food, and medical care — fueled Saturday’s demonstration outside the detention center. —Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 29 Mar. 2025

This highly contentious deal was criticized for being inhumane and impractical at the time. —Frey Lindsay, Forbes, 25 Mar. 2025

The horrendous, inhumane behavior of the Russian military in Ukraine is beyond belief. —Askold Haywas, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Mar. 2025

The roundups are controversial because horses can die or become injured in the stressful process, which wild horse advocates say is inhumane. —Elise Schmelzer, The Denver Post, 17 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle French inhumain & Latin inhumanus

First Known Use

1536, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for inhumane

• aeroplane
• appertain
• ascertain
• capitaine
• cassegrain
• cellophane
• chatelaine
• counterpane
• entertain
• gethsemane
• halothane
• hurricane

Kids Definition

inhumane

adjective

in·​hu·​mane ˌin-(ˌ)hyü-ˈmān 

-(ˌ)yü-

: not humane : inhuman sense 1

inhumane treatment of prisoners

inhumanely adverb