1
as in ruthless
having or showing a lack of sympathy or tender feelings
inhumane wardens who regularly ignored the crying children in their care
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in cruel
having or showing the desire to inflict severe pain and suffering on others
an inhumane dictator who tortured and murdered thousands of his own people
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of inhumane
One South Korean recounted to Yonhap inhumane conditions during the search and detention.
—
Max Rego, The Hill, 15 Sep. 2025
All spoke about the inhumane conditions, from the fetid human waste to having to stand during the rain because there is nowhere to lie down.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 15 Sep. 2025
Calls for the closure of the 127-year-old facility have continued to grow over the past few years due to conditions described as inhumane by people who are incarcerated there.
—Anna Kleiber, jsonline.com, 12 Sep. 2025
That’s inhumane and a policy failure.
—Jenn Tardy, Time, 10 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inhumane
Max Rego, The Hill, 15 Sep. 2025
All spoke about the inhumane conditions, from the fetid human waste to having to stand during the rain because there is nowhere to lie down.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 15 Sep. 2025
Calls for the closure of the 127-year-old facility have continued to grow over the past few years due to conditions described as inhumane by people who are incarcerated there.
—Anna Kleiber, jsonline.com, 12 Sep. 2025
That’s inhumane and a policy failure.
—Jenn Tardy, Time, 10 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inhumane
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inhumane
Adjective
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Zimmer also received an Emmy nod for her portrayal of ruthless executive Quinn King on Unreal (2015–2018).—
Allison DeGrushe,
Entertainment Weekly,
17 Oct. 2025
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And in short stories and doorstops, her attention is ruthless and unflinching.—
Brittany Allen,
Literary Hub,
16 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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In Pahani’s 2006 award-winning comedy Offside, about the cruel cultural chains binding Iranian women, a group of young women attempt to gain entry to a stadium to watch a World Cup qualifying match between Iran and Japan.—
Baz Bamigboye,
Deadline,
24 Oct. 2025
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There is no reason to be cruel to people.—
Sigal Ratner-Arias,
Billboard,
23 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Chat members were merciless in their rhetoric against fellow Young Republicans in competing factions of the organization.—
Matthew Kelly,
Kansas City Star,
15 Oct. 2025
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Next is 4-2 Mississippi State at home, the closest thing to a reprieve left on this merciless schedule.—
Alex Kirshner,
New York Times,
12 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Simulations take place between October and March in brutal winter conditions, when the Gobi freezes solid.—
Rosanna Philpott,
CNN Money,
24 Oct. 2025
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This early modern period would set the foundations of the rise of the transatlantic slave trade and a new form of slavery—hereditary racial slavery—that would be central to the creation of the racial-caste hierarchy and to the rise of Britain’s wealthy and brutal Caribbean slave empire.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Those stiffed in this initial round are rendered unable to meet their own bills and a vicious cycle ensues.—
Edward Lotterman,
Twin Cities,
19 Oct. 2025
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In Black Phone 2, McGraw has been upgraded to the de facto lead actor, and Gwen’s foul-mouthed takedowns are even more vicious.—
Brian Davids,
HollywoodReporter,
16 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Rader’s double life as a doting father and savage murderer is the subject of the new Netflix documentary My Father, the BTK Killer, based on his daughter Kerri Rawson’s search to make sense of the secret double life her father hid from his family.—
Johnny Dodd,
PEOPLE,
22 Oct. 2025
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The ensuing carnage was swift and savage.—
Paul Solotaroff,
Rolling Stone,
12 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Inhumane.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inhumane. Accessed 26 Oct. 2025.
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