superhuman

[ soo-per-hyoo-muhnor, often, -yoo- ]

adjective

1. above or beyond what is human; having a higher nature or greater powers than humans have:

   a superhuman being.

2. exceeding ordinary human power, achievement, experience, etc.:

   a superhuman effort.

superhuman

/ ˌsuːpəˈhjuːmən /

adjective

1. having powers above and beyond those of mankind
2. exceeding normal human ability or experience

Derived Forms

• ˌsuperˈhumanly, adverb
• ˌsuperhuˈmanity, noun

Other Words From

• su·per·hu·man·i·ty [soo-per-hyoo-, man, -i-tee, -yoo-], super·human·ness noun
• super·human·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of superhuman¹

From the New Latin word superhūmānus, dating back to 1625–35. See super-, human

Example Sentences

He was gifted with a superhuman taste sensitivity: He could easily distinguish a flavor at one ten thousandth of a gram in a fifteen ton batch.

From Salon

Beholden to the ticket machine incessantly spitting out orders, we moved at superhuman speed.

From Los Angeles Times

But Armstrong seemed up to the challenge even on “Given Up,” originally featuring one of Bennington’s most superhuman vocals, as she paced the large stage, pumping her fist, reshaping the vocal to her voice.

From Los Angeles Times

For them, Donald Trump has some kind of superhuman or divinely appointed power and strength.

From Salon

It underestimates their talent to assume that because they want to play in fashion and design that their hard work and sometimes superhuman abilities would immediately vanish.

From Salon

Related Words

• extraordinary
• godlike
• heroic
• supernatural
• uncanny