antihumanistic
|an-ti-hu-man-is-tic|
/ˌæn.ti.hjuːməˈnɪs.tɪk/
against humanism
Etymology
'antihumanistic' originates from the combining form 'anti-' (meaning 'against') and 'humanistic' (related to 'humanism'), where 'anti-' comes ultimately from Greek 'anti-' meaning 'against' and 'humanistic' derives from 'humanism' and 'human'.
'antihumanistic' was formed in modern English by prefixing 'anti-' to 'humanistic'. 'Humanistic' comes from 'humanism' (via modern English and French usage) and ultimately from Latin 'humanus' ('human, humane').
Initially, the elements meant 'against' (anti-) and 'pertaining to humanism/human concerns' (humanistic); over time their combination has come to mean either broadly 'opposed to humanistic values' or specifically 'related to the theoretical position called antihumanism.'
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
opposed to humanism or humanistic values; hostile to human welfare, dignity, or concerns (often implying dehumanizing policies or attitudes).
Critics argued that the prison reforms were antihumanistic and ignored inmates' basic needs.
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Adjective 2
relating to or characteristic of 'antihumanism' as a theoretical or critical stance in philosophy and cultural theory — i.e., skeptical or critical of traditional humanist assumptions about the autonomous, coherent human subject.
The essay presented an antihumanistic reading of modern novels, questioning the centrality of the human subject.
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Last updated: 2025/09/02 08:49