inhumane

adjective

in·​hu·​mane ˌin-(ˌ)hyü-ˈmān How to pronounce inhumane (audio)
-(ˌ)yü-
Synonyms of inhumanenext
: not humane : inhuman sense 1
the inhumane treatment of prisoners
inhumanely adverb

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
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.
This inhumane nightmare will not end anytime soon. Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 9 Jan. 2026 The Bureau of Prisons ultimately settled the lawsuit, compensating almost 1,600 inmates with a total of approximately $10 million for enduring frigid and inhumane conditions because of the power outage. Alisha Ebrahimji, CNN Money, 6 Jan. 2026 They now must be kidnapped, separated from their families, denied anything remotely resembling due process, and subjected to grotesquely inhumane conditions. Alexandra Petri, The Atlantic, 4 Jan. 2026 While the bill analysis cited data that reflects some support among cat owners for declawing cats to keep them from scratching, advocates for the bill said declawing cats is inhumane and painful for cats when done solely for the convenience of the pet’s owner. Center Square, The Washington Examiner, 3 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for inhumane

Word History

Etymology

Middle French inhumain & Latin inhumanus

First Known Use

1822, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of inhumane was in 1822

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Inhumane.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inhumane. Accessed 15 Jan. 2026.

Kids Definition

inhumane

adjective
in·​hu·​mane ˌin-(ˌ)hyü-ˈmān How to pronounce inhumane (audio)
-(ˌ)yü-
: not humane : inhuman sense 1
inhumane treatment of prisoners
inhumanely adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on inhumane

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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