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View synonyms for humane

humane

[ hyoo-meynor, often, yoo- ]

adjective

  1. characterized by tenderness, compassion, and sympathy for people and animals, especially for the suffering or distressed:

    humane treatment of prisoners.

    Synonyms: charitable, benignant, benevolent, sympathetic, gentle, compassionate, tender, kindhearted, kindly, kind, merciful

    Antonyms: brutal, inhumane

  2. acting in a manner that causes the least harm to people or animals:

    humane trapping of stray pets.

  3. of or relating to humanistic studies.


humane

/ hjuːˈmeɪn /

adjective

  1. characterized by kindness, mercy, sympathy, etc
  2. inflicting as little pain as possible

    a humane killing

  3. civilizing or liberal (esp in the phrases humane studies, humane education )


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Derived Forms

  • huˈmaneness, noun
  • huˈmanely, adverb

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Other Words From

  • hu·manely adverb
  • hu·maneness noun
  • unhu·mane adjective
  • unhu·manely adverb
  • unhu·maneness noun

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Word History and Origins

Origin of humane1

First recorded in 1425–75; originally a variant of human, restricted to above senses from the 18th century; germane, german

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Word History and Origins

Origin of humane1

C16: variant of human

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Synonym Study

See human.

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Example Sentences

The change is an unalloyed good: It makes us more humane and our relationships more real.

That is why I believe that you feel the value of this ethical and humane togetherness.

“We have to be humane and we care about our patients but we are also not a prison,” the anonymous doctor said.

And into the fray comes a weapon I never thought would have been legal, let alone humane—something called Knee Defender.

It is framed, rightly so, as a painful act done in the service of being as humane and respectful as possible.

But the rebels, presumably interpreting his humane suggestion as a sign of weakness, continued to fire on the Spanish troops.

There were semi-savage native chiefs, and there were others, like Aguinaldo himself, with humane instincts.

But this is not a humane and civilised nation, and never will be while it accepts Christianity as its religion.

It was a good and humane action to prevent bloodshed, but the world is not always worthy of good actions.

But would it not be more humane and more charitable to foresee the misery and to prevent the poor from increasing?

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