sub·hu·man
ˌsəb-ˈhyü-mən 
-ˈyü-
: less than human: such as
a
: failing to attain the level (as of morality or intelligence) associated with normal human beings
b
: unsuitable to or unfit for human beings
subhuman living conditions
c
: of or relating to a taxonomic group lower than that of humans
the subhuman primates
: a subhuman being
Examples of subhuman in a Sentence
Adjective
The prisoners suffered subhuman treatment.
years of grinding poverty that had reduced them to a subhuman existence
Recent Examples on the Web
Shawna Chen, Axios, 22 May 2025
Then a twist of fate and tragedy casts the subhuman nature of this treatment in a fresh light, and Alma, with a terrible new understanding, does what grown women for time immemorial have done.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 14 May 2025
Meredith Maran, Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2025
Underneath their discussions about democracy, rationalism, and religion lies one consensus: Women are subordinate and subhuman.
—Bekah Waalkes, The Atlantic, 3 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for subhuman
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Adjective
Yes, but: They were largely treated as subhuman and even lynched across the U.S.
Here are five legal challenges that proved pivotal in demanding equality.
—Shawna Chen, Axios, 22 May 2025
Then a twist of fate and tragedy casts the subhuman nature of this treatment in a fresh light, and Alma, with a terrible new understanding, does what grown women for time immemorial have done.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 14 May 2025
Noun
Devastated to learn that the Allies, too, were treating trans people as subhuman, Bertie and Sofie stop waiting to be liberated and start planning their own liberation.
—Meredith Maran, Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2025
Underneath their discussions about democracy, rationalism, and religion lies one consensus: Women are subordinate and subhuman.
—Bekah Waalkes, The Atlantic, 3 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for subhuman
Cite this Entry
“Subhuman.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/subhuman. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
subhuman
adjective
sub·hu·man
ˌsəb-ˈhyü-mən, ˈsəb-, -ˈyü-
: of or relating to a taxonomic group lower than that of humans
the subhuman primates
subhuman
noun
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