- to deprive of human qualities
- to render mechanical, artificial, or routine
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
de•hu•man•ize /diˈhyuməˌnaɪz/USA pronunciation
v. [ ~ + obj], -ized, -iz•ing.
de•hu•ma•niz•ing, adj.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- to deprive of human qualities:Brutal treatment dehumanized the prisoners.
de•hu•ma•niz•ing, adj.
de•hu•man•ize
(dē hyo̅o̅′mə nīz′ or, often, -yo̅o̅′-),USA pronunciation v.t., -ized, -iz•ing.
de•hu′man•i•za′tion, n.
- to deprive of human qualities or attributes;
divest of individuality:Conformity dehumanized him.
- de- + humanize 1810–20
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
dehumanize, dehumanise /diːˈhjuːməˌnaɪz/ vb (transitive)
'dehumanizing' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):