Definition of: humane

(hy·mān′) adjective
1. Having or showing kindness and tenderness; compassionate.
2. Tending to refine; polite; elegant. [Var. of HUMAN]
—hu·mane′ly adverb
—hu·mane′ness noun Synonyms: benevolent, benignant, charitable, clement, compassionate, forgiving, gentle, gracious, human, kind, kind–hearted, merciful, pitying, sympathetic, tender, tender–hearted. Human denotes what pertains to mankind, with no suggestion as to its being good or evil. Humane denotes what may rightly be expected of mankind at its best in the treatment of sentient beings; a humane enterprise or endeavor is one that is intended to prevent or relieve suffering. The humane man will not needlessly inflict pain upon the meanest thing that lives; a merciful man is disposed to withhold or mitigate the suffering even of the guilty. The compassionate man sympathizes with and desires to relieve actual suffering, while one who is humane would forestall and prevent the suffering which he sees to be possible. Compare GOOD, PITIFUL. Antonyms: barbarous, brutal, cruel, fierce, ferocious, inhuman, merciless, pitiless, ruthless, savage, selfish, unmerciful, unpitying.