subhuman — English Dictionary

Adjective

1. Less than human. As asserted of humans.

   Usage

   • Offensive
   • often

   Synonyms

   infrahuman

   Antonyms

   superhumansuprahumanultrahuman

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   A secret to Nazi power was that anyone from the ingroup could be turned upon and labeled as subhuman scum when some alleged Jewish ancestry was suddenly "discovered".

2. Less than human. As asserted of animals.

   Synonyms

   infrahuman

   Examples

   We say dolphin intelligence is subhuman; I suspect dolphins say our intelligence is subdolphin.

   In the belief system of his day, chimpanzees were described as subhuman and asserted to be incapable of feeling pain.

Noun

1. Any sentient creature that is subhuman.

   Usage

   • Offensive
   • sometimes

   Synonyms

   Untermenschnonperson

   Antonyms

   superhumanübermensch

   Broader terms

   humanoid

   Examples

   Near-synonym: nonperson

2. A man who ranks at the bottom percentile or decile of SMV; a truecel

Adjective

1. less than human or not worthy of a human being

   Antonyms

   superhuman

   Examples

   treated natives as subhuman

   a subhuman spectacle

   More examples (1)

   the subhuman primates

2. unfit for human beings

   Examples

   subhuman conditions of life