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

Nonetheless, the authorities have responded by instigating fear and treating citizens with inhumanity. —Maryia Sadouskaya-Komlach, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2020

Throughout his diary, excerpts of which we are honored to share today with our readers, Navalny writes with a fierce moral clarity about the inhumanity of Vladimir Putin’s regime, and about the power of its opposite force—the humanity of his fellow-countrymen. —David Remnick, The New Yorker, 11 Oct. 2024

Carreira is not interested in vilifying individuals but in teasing out the inhumanity of working conditions that grind people down little by little. —Sophie Monks Kaufman, IndieWire, 6 Sep. 2024

Among them, Galerie Eric Mouchet will present, in the Survey sector, a selection of poignant works by South African artist Kendell Geers (b. 1968) addressing the brutality and inhumanity of apartheid. —The Editors Of Artnews, ARTnews.com, 16 July 2024

Word History

First Known Use

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

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