Inhuman and inhumane

English as a Second Language English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
1

Hi all of you,

Is there a difference in meaning and how you use them. I found two sentences in the Collins Cobuild, but the explanation was a little vague for me.

  • The violence of the gunman was inhuman, barbaric, impossible to justify.

  • The new weapon was considered to be too inhumane to be used.

Are inhuman and inhumane interchangeable or not?
What are the adverbs of both adjectives: inhumanly and inhumanely.

P.S.: what does the followig sentence mean: He couldn’t humanly refuse to help her.

Thanks
Alexandro

2

To me, they have very similar meanings. However, if you’re referring to a person, “inhuman” implies greater extend of context meaning than “inhumane.”

Just personal opinion. Hope you will get a professional answer from someone else.