humane

adjective

hu·mane | \ hyü-ˈmān

How to pronounce humane (audio)

, yü- \

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

Other Words from humane Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about humane

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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 Education ought to be a right of citizenship in a wealthy, humane, democratic society. — Ryann Liebenthal, The New Republic, "The Long Fight to Cancel Student Loans," 19 Apr. 2021 Watch previous shows: Among his many day jobs between music and touring, Rawlins has been a housekeeper for a humane society, a concrete laborer, a wildland firefighter, and a high-rise window cleaner. — oregonlive, "Tune in for The Oregonian’s live music show with Gregory Rawlins next week," 22 Mar. 2021 The hearing is scheduled for Friday and could determine whether the dogs are returned to their owners’ custody or remain with the humane society, records show. — Katie Rice, orlandosentinel.com, "42 dogs rescued, 3 men arrested in Daytona Beach dogfighting ring bust," 16 Mar. 2021 And certainly there are beliefs that should be banished from a humane society — antisemitism, white supremacy, misogyny. — Washington Post, "Just let them keep talking," 16 Mar. 2021 Bewley and her team were the first to provide medical care to Ethan when he was found outside the humane society's main campus. — Mary Ramsey, The Courier-Journal, "'A part of the family': Ethan the dog's journey gets happy ending at adoption celebration," 10 Mar. 2021 But Tarbox said the humane society did not have a record of that call. — Vanessa Arredondo, San Francisco Chronicle, "Bay Area family's lost dog wound up at a shelter and was adopted. They're pleading to get him back," 8 Mar. 2021 Notwithstanding the administration's claims to the contrary, there is a crisis, led by a massive surge in child migration spurred by President Joe Biden's promises of a more humane policy than his predecessor's. — Bret Stephens New York Times, Star Tribune, "Biden should finish the wall," 6 Apr. 2021 Discrimination is glossed as concern, and advocating for short-term stays is presented as more humane than working with residents to deepen roots. — Megan Evershed, The New Republic, "How an Upper West Side Hotel Came to Embody the City’s Failure on Homelessness," 31 Mar. 2021

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.

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Dictionary Entries near humane

human chorionic gonadotropin

human engineering

Statistics for humane

Last Updated

26 Apr 2021

Cite this Entry

“Humane.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/humane. Accessed 7 May. 2021.

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More Definitions for humane

humane

adjective

English Language Learners Definition of humane

: kind or gentle to people or animals

See the full definition for humane in the English Language Learners Dictionary

humane

adjective

hu·mane | \ hyü-ˈmān

, yü- \

Kids Definition of humane

: having sympathy and consideration for people or animals

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