1
as in compassionate
having or marked by sympathy and consideration for others
humane guards who treated the prisoners decently the Geneva conventions spelled out standards for the humane treatment of prisoners of war
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in sympathetic
having or showing the capacity for sharing the feelings of another
the movie's humane depiction of people who are physically and mentally challenged
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of humane
The Catholic Church has long advocated for humane treatment of migrants and refugees in the United States and around the world.
—
ABC News, 1 May 2026
This meditative portrait pairs humane narration with contemporary Japanese landscapes, exploring the quiet tensions between aging, political militancy and time itself.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 1 May 2026
Gerry Byrne, vice chairman of Variety parent company PMC and a longtime media business executive, will be recognized by his alma mater, New York’s Fordham University, with an honorary doctorate of humane letters at the school’s commencement ceremony on May 16.
—William Earl, Variety, 29 Apr. 2026
In an interview with The Times, Kiley said his vote was about common sense and being humane.
—Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for humane
ABC News, 1 May 2026
This meditative portrait pairs humane narration with contemporary Japanese landscapes, exploring the quiet tensions between aging, political militancy and time itself.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 1 May 2026
Gerry Byrne, vice chairman of Variety parent company PMC and a longtime media business executive, will be recognized by his alma mater, New York’s Fordham University, with an honorary doctorate of humane letters at the school’s commencement ceremony on May 16.
—William Earl, Variety, 29 Apr. 2026
In an interview with The Times, Kiley said his vote was about common sense and being humane.
—Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for humane
Recent Examples of Synonyms for humane
Adjective
-
Addressing it requires a comprehensive and compassionate approach.—
Lucas Robinson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 May 2026
-
Contemporary, timeless, and deeply intimate in its candor, Scenes From The Divide honored all viewpoints about Mamdani’s potential impact on the Jewish community by anchoring the title in a thoughtful, compassionate lead seeking understanding from voters.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
6 May 2026
Adjective
-
Bahrain revoked citizenship from 69 individuals accused of being sympathetic to Iran.—
Dominic Dudley,
semafor.com,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Several justices seemed sympathetic to the company’s argument that it can’t be sued under state law because federal regulators have found Roundup likely doesn’t cause cancer.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
But statement that seems so benevolent can be anything but.—
Kathy and Ross Petrass,
CNBC,
24 Apr. 2026
-
With the eventual blessing of his benevolent landlords, Grattan has completely transformed the rental unit— widening doorways, upgrading electrical systems, and reimagining every wall and ceiling.—
Sam Cochran,
Architectural Digest,
15 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Dewey’s Dan is a kind and creative painter, and the only slightly chaotic thing Kate has ever loved.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
6 May 2026
-
Wrigley has been especially kind to the Cubs, who now have an 8-1 record with the wind blowing out, and 3-0 with a crosswind.—
Paul Sullivan,
Chicago Tribune,
5 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Humane.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/humane. Accessed 13 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
