dehumanized

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "dehumanized" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where individuals are treated as less than human, often in contexts related to oppression, violence, or systemic injustice. Example: "The harsh conditions of the prison system often leave inmates feeling dehumanized and stripped of their dignity."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

You would be, as we say, dehumanized The connection between a loss of privacy and dehumanization is of course, a well-known and ancient fact, and one for which we don't need to appeal to science fiction to illustrate.

The New York Times

So dehumanized that heads of state can refer to them as a "swarm".

Independent

This movement implicitly reasserted the humanist universalism of anthropology and pointed up how other cultures were described in terms that distanced and dehumanized them.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Negative societal attitudes, discrimination in institutional practices, and cultural beliefs that dehumanized the disabled began to be challenged at a personal level.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Chaplin played a nameless factory worker who has been dehumanized by the mindless task he has to perform tightening bolts on parts that fly by on an assembly line; Goddard played "A Gamin," the waif who comes under his wing.

Encyclopedia Britannica

But if one feels that this is indeed what Daumier saw in those dehumanized faces, then they are not comic but tragic.

Encyclopedia Britannica

By declaring herself and her followers to be the world's superlatively reasonable people, Rand dehumanized those who disagreed with her, just as the Bolsheviks dehumanized those who disagreed with them.

The New Yorker

Such claims, once made, had a "tendency to cascade," encompassing more and more groups, even as they engendered what she calls "evil twins": ideologies that dehumanized those they disenfranchised.

The New Yorker

Nonceba, Thenjiwe's younger sister, is trapped in a hut by Sibaso, a dissident dehumanized by the bush war — a stalker, killer, rapist — "a hunter who kills not because he is hungry but because his stomach is full".

The New Yorker

I am depressed, deranged, decapitated, dehumanized, defoliated, demented and damned!

The New Yorker

When asked how he & his friends had managed to prevent the F.B.I. from discovering his where-abouts, Father Berrigan said "Because the F.B.I. are overtechnologized and dehumanized.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "dehumanized" to describe situations where individuals or groups are stripped of their human qualities and treated as less than human, especially in contexts of oppression, conflict, or systemic injustice.

Common error

Avoid using "dehumanized" loosely for situations that are simply unpleasant or frustrating. Ensure the context genuinely involves a loss of human dignity and fundamental rights, not just inconvenience or disagreement.

Linguistic Context

The word "dehumanized" functions primarily as the past participle of the verb 'dehumanize'. It often acts as an adjective describing someone or something that has been stripped of human qualities. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Encyclopedias

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "dehumanized" is the past participle of 'dehumanize', functioning as an adjective to describe the state of being stripped of human qualities. As Ludwig AI states, the term is grammatically sound and commonly used in written English. Its purpose is to highlight the severe impact of actions or systems that reduce individuals or groups to less than human status. The term appears most frequently in News & Media, encyclopedias, and academic contexts, reflecting its relevance to discussions of social justice, conflict, and historical analysis. When using "dehumanized", ensure the context genuinely involves a loss of human dignity and fundamental rights. Alternative phrases include "made inhuman" or "stripped of dignity".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

made inhuman

Focuses on the transformation into something not human, emphasizing the resulting state.

treated as subhuman

Highlights the act of treating someone as less than human, emphasizing the action.

stripped of dignity

Emphasizes the loss of respect and honor, a key aspect of humanity.

reduced to an object

Focuses on the act of objectification, where a person is seen as a thing rather than a human being.

deprived of humanity

Highlights the act of taking away the qualities that make someone human.

desensitized to their plight

Indicates a loss of empathy and feeling towards the suffering of others, which contributes to dehumanization.

rendered soulless

Focuses on the loss of spiritual or emotional depth, an important part of the human experience.

made to feel worthless

Emphasizes the feeling of lacking value or importance, contributing to a sense of dehumanization.

treated as a statistic

Highlights the reduction of individuals to mere numbers, ignoring their personal stories and humanity.

degraded and debased

Focuses on the act of lowering someone's character or quality, contributing to dehumanization.

FAQs

How is "dehumanized" typically used in sentences?

The word "dehumanized" is often used to describe how individuals or groups are treated as less than human, especially within contexts involving oppression, conflict, or systemic injustices. For example, it can describe the experiences of refugees or the effects of war.

What are some synonyms for "dehumanized"?

Alternatives to "dehumanized" include "made inhuman", "stripped of dignity", "objectified", or "degraded". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

In what situations is it appropriate to use the word "dehumanized"?

The word "dehumanized" is appropriate when describing situations where individuals or groups are stripped of their human qualities, dignity, or rights, often due to systemic oppression, violence, or discrimination. For example, consider using it when discussing the treatment of marginalized communities or the psychological effects of warfare.

What is the difference between "dehumanized" and "degraded"?

"Dehumanized" suggests a loss of fundamental human qualities and treatment as less than human, while "degraded" implies a lowering of status or character. While both can be related, "dehumanized" carries a stronger implication of stripping away basic humanity.