inhuman
adjective
in·hu·man
(ˌ)in-ˈhyü-mən 
-ˈyü-
1
a
: lacking pity, kindness, or mercy : savage
an inhuman tyrant
b
: cold, impersonal
… his usual quiet, almost inhuman courtesy.—
F. Tennyson Jesse
F. Tennyson Jesse
c
: not worthy of or conforming to the needs of human beings
inhuman living conditions
2
: of or suggesting a nonhuman class of beings
inhumanly
adverb
Examples of inhuman in a Sentence
He let out an inhuman moan.
She had an almost inhuman desire to succeed.
Recent Examples on the Web
The power of his work resides not in ideological argument or moral screed but in the observation of characters struggling to maintain their humanity in an inhuman system.
—Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2026
This is the palette of the machine-made, that which is inhuman, and Duchamp would drive the point home in Coffee Mill (1911), a tiny painting of a grinder that expels a cascade of brown beans.
—Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 8 Apr. 2026
As a result of improving via self-play, AlphaGo and AlphaZero developed not only superhuman ability but also inhuman style, using tactics and strategies no human had previously considered.
—Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 30 Mar. 2026
Israel knows women and babies were tortured, burned and posed in inhuman ways for one reason — to frighten.
—Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 22 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for inhuman
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.
Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2026
This is the palette of the machine-made, that which is inhuman, and Duchamp would drive the point home in Coffee Mill (1911), a tiny painting of a grinder that expels a cascade of brown beans.
—Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 8 Apr. 2026
As a result of improving via self-play, AlphaGo and AlphaZero developed not only superhuman ability but also inhuman style, using tactics and strategies no human had previously considered.
—Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 30 Mar. 2026
Israel knows women and babies were tortured, burned and posed in inhuman ways for one reason — to frighten.
—Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 22 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for inhuman
Cite this Entry
“Inhuman.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inhuman. Accessed 28 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
inhuman
adjective
in·hu·man
(ˈ)in-ˈhyü-mən
-ˈyü-
1
a
: lacking pity or kindness : savage
b
: lacking human warmth : impersonal
c
: not fit for human needs
inhuman conditions
2
: unlike what is typically human
an inhuman cry
inhumanly
adverb
inhumanness
noun
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
