as in brute
having or showing the nature and appetites of a lower animal
years of grinding poverty that had reduced them to a subhuman existence
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples 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 subhuman
By modern standards, the story features a horrific representation of Neanderthals; Wells imagined them as subhuman creatures hellbent on hunting humans that were migrating into their territory.
—
Jack Knudson, Discover Magazine, 21 Dec. 2023
The subhuman invaders, as Raspail describes them, wallow in their own feces and delight in trampling over the misguided liberals who thought to welcome and feed them.
—Katherine Stewart, The New Republic, 10 Aug. 2023
Many Black migrants are pushed to the fringes of border cities to wait in subhuman conditions.
—Arelis R. Hernández, Washington Post, 11 Mar. 2023
At the same time, a loop seemed to start playing in my mind, with hundreds of voices from my past telling me that transgender people were subhuman.
—Lara Americo, New York Times, 15 Apr. 2020
See all Example Sentences for subhuman 
Jack Knudson, Discover Magazine, 21 Dec. 2023
The subhuman invaders, as Raspail describes them, wallow in their own feces and delight in trampling over the misguided liberals who thought to welcome and feed them.
—Katherine Stewart, The New Republic, 10 Aug. 2023
Many Black migrants are pushed to the fringes of border cities to wait in subhuman conditions.
—Arelis R. Hernández, Washington Post, 11 Mar. 2023
At the same time, a loop seemed to start playing in my mind, with hundreds of voices from my past telling me that transgender people were subhuman.
—Lara Americo, New York Times, 15 Apr. 2020
See all Example Sentences for subhuman
Recent Examples of Synonyms for subhuman
Adjective
-
This dismissal of Armenian historical ties to the region ignores the profound humanitarian crisis that has ensued and sets a dangerous precedent for conflict resolution through brute force.—
Michael Gfoeller And David H. Rundell,
Newsweek,
15 Jan. 2025
-
Xi’s consolidation of power may offer short-term control and a capacity to achieve certain strategic and technological outcomes through brute force.—
Jude Blanchette,
Foreign Affairs,
7 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
After decades of conflict with Beijing over discrimination and suppression of their cultural identity, the Chinese government launched a brutal crackdown on the Uyghurs that some Western governments deem a genocide.—
Dake Kang and Huizhong Wu,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Jan. 2025
-
Action icon Donnie Yen (John Wick: Chapter 4) directs and stars in this brutal revenge story about a former prosecutor determined to exact justice.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
10 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
That feral state certainly translates to the screen.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes,
9 Jan. 2025
-
Pigs are known to attack humans, but fatalities tend to be caused by feral animals, such as wild boars, rather than domestic livestock.—
Kevin Lynn,
Newsweek,
7 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Eggers certainly loves the guy, and Skarsgård’s ultra-committed performance allows the film to enjoy a contagious pleasure in returning the vampire archetype to its more bestial origins.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
2 Dec. 2024
-
The rape/bestial fetish is framed as a fantasy imagined by a woman, curiously beginning as an assault.—
Nicholas Bell,
SPIN,
31 July 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near subhuman
Cite this Entry
“Subhuman.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subhuman. Accessed 25 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share