# inhuman

/ˌɪnˈhjumən/ (US) · /ɪnhjˈuːmən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/inhuman
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. extremely cruel

adjective · CEFR B2

very cruel and lacking any kindness or pity for other people.

For teachers: lacking humanity, kindness, or compassion; characterized by extreme cruelty or brutality.

- The soldiers were accused of treating their prisoners in an inhuman way.
- The report detailed the inhuman treatment of refugees at the border, sparking an international outcry for immediate policy reform.

### 2. not like a human

adjective · CEFR C1 · Literary

seeming like it does not come from a human, often because it is strange, cold, or very powerful.

For teachers: differing from or transcending the nature of a human being; often used to describe sounds, strength, or coldness.

- A strange, inhuman scream came from the dark woods behind the house.
- The athlete moved with almost inhuman speed, leaving his competitors so far behind that the crowd fell into a stunned silence.

## Examples

- The prisoners were kept in inhuman conditions.
- The dictator was eventually removed from power after years of committing inhuman acts against his own citizens.
- The philosopher argued that treating any living being with such inhuman indifference eventually erodes the moral character of the society that permits it.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.