unhuman

[ uhn-hyoo-muhn, or, often, ‐-yoo-muhn ]

adjective

1. lacking human attributes:

   The unhuman figures in his earlier work were not well received.

2. of a quality or power beyond what is human; superhuman:

   Her hands clenched the chair with unhuman strength.

3. not a member of the human species:

   Of our unhuman relatives, I love the mountain gorillas best.

Word History and Origins

Origin of unhuman¹

First recorded in 1780–85; un- ¹( def ) + human ( def )

Example Sentences

"She was on a golf cart with four terrorists around her. I was terrified. I couldn't believe it was even possible to kidnap an 85-year-old woman from her bed. It is unhuman behaviour, beyond possible."

From BBC

Office of Human Rights in Geneva called it “deeply disturbing” and declared that all public executions “constitute a form of cruel, unhuman or degrading punishment.”

From Washington Post

There was something so panther-like in the movement—something so unhuman, that it seemed to sober us all from the shock of his coming.

From Literature

It’s a difficult achievement – I think it’s almost unhuman.

From The Guardian

They did not, however, think of them as huge lizards and mammoths, but as somewhat like men and yet unhuman.

From Literature