1
: marked by compassion, sympathy, or consideration for humans or animals
humane prison guards
a more humane way of treating farm animals
2
: characterized by or tending to broad humanistic culture : humanistic
humane studies
humanely
adverb
Examples of humane in a Sentence
It's not humane to treat animals that way.
Conditions in the prison are more humane now.
Recent Examples on the Web
Family Matters offers something radical and profoundly humane in a field where so much emphasis is placed on the one who struggles with addiction.
—
Lyssanoel Frater, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2025
If said frog isn’t all-the-way-dead, the humane thing to do is kill it quickly.
—Sophie Hartley, IndyStar, 9 Sep. 2025
Grassroots efforts like these stand in stark contrast to the industrial model; small-scale, humane and sustainable approaches to poultry-keeping are becoming increasingly popular, as well as favored.
—Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025
What could be a quirky premise blossoms into a deeply humane exploration of belonging, identity and emotional labor.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 7 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for humane
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Lyssanoel Frater, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2025
If said frog isn’t all-the-way-dead, the humane thing to do is kill it quickly.
—Sophie Hartley, IndyStar, 9 Sep. 2025
Grassroots efforts like these stand in stark contrast to the industrial model; small-scale, humane and sustainable approaches to poultry-keeping are becoming increasingly popular, as well as favored.
—Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025
What could be a quirky premise blossoms into a deeply humane exploration of belonging, identity and emotional labor.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 7 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for humane
Cite this Entry
“Humane.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/humane. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share