humanize

[ hyoo-muh-nahyzor, often, yoo- ]

verb (used with object)

, hu·man·ized, hu·man·iz·ing.

1. to make humane, kind, or gentle.
2. to make human.

verb (used without object)

, hu·man·ized, hu·man·iz·ing.

1. to become human or humane.

humanize

/ ˈhjuːməˌnaɪz /

verb

1. to make or become human
2. to make or become humane

Derived Forms

• ˈhumanˌizer, noun
• ˌhumaniˈzation, noun

Other Words From

• human·i·zation noun
• human·izer noun
• non·human·ized adjective
• over·human·ize verb overhumanized overhumanizing
• rehu·man·i·zation noun
• re·human·ize verb rehumanized rehumanizing
• semi·human·ized adjective
• super·human·ize verb (used with object) superhumanized superhumanizing
• un·human·ize verb (used with object) unhumanized unhumanizing

Word History and Origins

Origin of humanize¹

First recorded in 1595–1605; human + -ize

Example Sentences

That this caper results in a staggering amount of collateral damage — I mean, he shoots a lot of innocent people — makes him immediately unlikable, which I don’t think is the point; if anything, there’s some attempt to humanize him, give him some depth.

From Los Angeles Times

Set in the 1970s and 1980s and depicting Trump’s effort to “Bring New York back” through real estate, the film could be read as a biopic that tries to humanize Trump in his initial efforts to succeed against oppressive forces.

From Salon

Sharon Palmer laughs as she tells this story, which seems, at first, like your standard cute anecdote, tossed off to humanize a famous daughter — an example of how stubborn kids can be in the pursuit of their desires, proof that years before she became a child star, Keke knew how to get what she wanted.

From Los Angeles Times

Rivulets of paint dribbling from the edges of a trumpeting, undulating, otherwise indescribable robotic form are said to represent the tears of grief-stricken King Lear, wildly attempting to humanize the cold if nearly inexplicable scientific reality of Man Ray’s source.

From Los Angeles Times

Instead, the writing chooses to humanize her as the young person she is — the young person she really hasn't been able to be through her grief.

From Salon

Related Words

• civilize
• tame