inhumane

adjective

in·​hu·​mane ˌin-(ˌ)hyü-ˈmān 

-(ˌ)yü-

: not humane : inhuman sense 1

the inhumane treatment of prisoners

inhumanely adverb

Synonyms of inhumane

• ruthless
• merciless
• stony

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

Prison critics call supermax facilities, with their frequent solitary confinement, excessively inhumane. —Literary Hub, 18 Dec. 2025

Immigrants are being detained without warrants or due process, at historic levels in inhumane and cruel conditions. —MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2025

Do not ever involve me or my music to benefit your inhumane agenda. —Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Dec. 2025

But fast-forward to 2025, and fur’s place in popular culture is increasingly called into question, due to concerns about animal welfare and growing mainstream awareness of the inhumane methods employed in fur farming. —Laurie Brookins, HollywoodReporter, 5 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle French inhumain & Latin inhumanus

First Known Use

1822, 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