inhumanly

Inhumanly is an adverb that describes the manner or degree of an action relative to human norms. It is formed from the adjective inhuman—lacking human qualities such as mercy or compassion—and the suffix -ly. The meaning ranges from describing actions that are unreasonably cruel or lacking compassion to signaling that something exceeds ordinary human limits of speed, endurance, or strength. In practice, inhumanly often carries a strong moral evaluation when used with actions such as violence or neglect, though it can also function as a broad intensifier: “inhumanly fast” or “inhumanly long hours.”

Etymology and scope: The word is composed of in- (not) + human (from Latin humanus) with -ly forming an adverb. The core sense is lacking humanity, while the adverbial use extends to expressions of extraordinary characteristics, both moral and physical.

Usage notes: Inhumanly appears in narrative writing, journalism, and critique to emphasize severity or extreme pace. In formal or technical writing, more neutral alternatives such as extremely, unusually, cruelly, or without mercy may be preferred to avoid moral overtones. The choice to use inhumanly depends on whether the writer wishes to convey a judgment about humanity or simply stress degree.

Related terms: inhuman, inhumaneness, cruelty, brutality, mercilessness. See also discussions of human limits, endurance, and moral judgment in action.