Synonyms of humane

humane

adjective

hyü-ˈmān 

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

• compassionate
• benevolent
• kind
• sympathetic
• thoughtful
• gentle
• gracious
• friendly
• kindly
• merciful
• nice
• beneficent
• kindhearted
• humanitarian
• generous
• benignant
• good
• sweet
• tender
• pleasant
• good-hearted
• softhearted
• warmhearted
• attentive
• tenderhearted
• warm
• patient
• considerate
• benign
• solicitous
• noble
• charitable
• mild
• neighborly
• good-natured
• companionable
• liberal
• soft
• affable
• lenient
• genial
• amicable
• cordial
• pitying
• tolerant
• altruistic
• philanthropic
• forgiving
• comradely
• unselfish
• selfless
• forbearing
• understanding
• magnanimous
• good-tempered
• munificent
• unsparing
• brotherly
• clement
• openhearted
• cruelty-free
• freehanded
• greathearted
• anticruelty

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• cruel
• inhumane
• barbaric
• savage
• brutal
• inhuman
• barbarous
• callous
• vicious
• heartless
• sadistic
• brute
• bestial
• ruthless
• unsympathetic
• unfeeling
• unkind
• brutish
• atrocious
• fiendish
• pitiless
• truculent
• insensate
• merciless
• insensitive
• thoughtless
• uncompassionate
• severe
• unthinking
• cold-blooded
• uncaring
• harsh
• tough
• stern
• grim
• unsentimental
• hard-hearted
• inconsiderate
• unkindly
• wanton
• malignant
• malicious
• virulent
• mean
• malevolent
• hateful
• spiteful
• malign
• ironhearted
• nasty
• stonyhearted
• heavy-handed
• uncharitable
• hard-boiled
• antihumanitarian

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

• compassionate
• sympathetic
• empathetic
• gentle
• empathic
• understanding
• loving
• affectionate
• benevolent
• warm
• commiserative
• merciful
• feeling
• charitable
• perceptive
• kind
• gracious
• sensitive
• friendly
• considerate
• magnanimous
• kindly
• lenient
• kindhearted
• tolerant
• congenial
• softhearted
• benignant
• pitying
• good-natured
• warmhearted
• bighearted
• tenderhearted
• cordial
• tender
• well-disposed
• genial
• good-tempered
• largehearted
• clement
• ruthful

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• inhumane
• inhuman
• callous
• heartless
• hard
• unsympathetic
• unfeeling
• obdurate
• insensitive
• thoughtless
• cold-blooded
• indifferent
• insensate
• unthinking
• cool
• aloof
• inconsiderate
• uncaring
• uninterested
• ruthless
• coldhearted
• unfriendly
• pitiless
• hard-hearted
• merciless
• unloving
• brutal
• oppressive
• severe
• bigoted
• harsh
• stern
• tough
• grim
• hostile
• unrelenting
• rough
• disagreeable
• abusive
• ungentle
• unaffectionate
• malicious
• virulent
• malevolent
• hateful
• unkind
• mean
• spiteful
• surly
• acrimonious
• blinkered
• narrow-minded
• rancorous
• small-minded
• hard-boiled
• hard-bitten
• ill-natured
• ill-tempered

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of humane

The humane society said community support remains especially important during the busy summer months. — Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 15 July 2026

Two New World screwworm cases in dogs are among more than 30 confirmed instances in Texas and New Mexico, prompting warnings Wednesday from veterinarians and humane societies that pet owners need to remain vigilant to protect their animals. — John Hanna, Chicago Tribune, 10 July 2026

The humor—dry, humane, occasionally absurd—is ever-present … The Vermont setting, spare and bracing, acts as a quiet amplifier of these idiosyncrasies, while Mason remains attuned to the natural world. — Literary Hub, 10 July 2026

In addition, Carver received a posthumous doctor of humane letters degree from ISU in 1994. — Norah Judson, Des Moines Register, 9 July 2026