Definition of humane
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
adverbRead the Latest from M-W
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 of humane from the Web
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In all, 29 people incarcerated in Attica and 10 hostages were killed by police while fighting for humane conditions, including food and medical care.
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Clearly weighted towards Gitai's own liberal political stance, but incorporating a range of other views too, West of the Jordan River is a dry and sometimes depressing film, but informative and humane too.
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A humane, liberal society is one in which men and women possess the discipline, self-command, and personal autonomy needed to live with a sense of purpose and direction.
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Both Muzzle and Bear Beware are registered with the Environmental Protection Agency as effective but humane deterrents for dangerous animals.
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My son and the millions of others with diagnosed and undiagnosed rare genetic disorders rely on an uninhibited, unhindered community of scientists and researchers who are supported by humane, curious governments.
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With a humane eye for characters and their portrayal, these two are productive enough to fill a channel of their own.
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Bold and complex but disarmingly humane, Mr. Sorey recently spent a charmed week at the Vanguard, playing brilliantly with the Vijay Iyer Trio.
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These humane devices emit a high-pitched tone audible only to dogs whenever one in the vicinity starts barking.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'humane'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of humane
Middle English humain
First Known Use: 1552
HUMANE Defined for English Language Learners
humane
playDefinition of humane for English Language Learners
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: kind or gentle to people or animals
HUMANE Defined for Kids
humane
playDefinition of humane for Students
: having sympathy and consideration for people or animals
humanely
adverbLearn More about humane
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Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for humane Spanish Central: Translation of humane Nglish: Translation of humane for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of humane for Arabic speakers
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