Skip to main content
humanlike

humanlike

2 4.2
Being like a person in how it looks or acts
  • adjective
  • /ˈhjuːmənˌlaɪk/
translation icon : humanoide
  • Scientists study the humanlike features of primates to understand our own evolution.
  • humanlike robot
  • humanlike creature
  • humanlike species

Examples

  • With its humanlike expressions and movements, the android amazed everyone at the technology fair.

  • This will make them seem far more humanlike to us, of course, because they will be exactly so.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • We have experience in dealing with humanlike others, after all.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • With Chip's Challenging Moments function, you can get this in a much more loving, nurturing, humanlike way.

    Blog text (30)
  • This gives them an intelligent, humanlike quality, almost as if they are contemplating something (maybe lunch?).

    Academic text (1998)
  • Computer scientists are simulating brain functions using virtual reality and "neural networks" that perform intelligent, humanlike operations.

    Academic text (1997)
  • With a great effort, she tore her thoughts and mind away from the mirror and the humanlike creature and tried to move her right hand; first the fingers of her hand, then her whole arm obeyed her.

    Fiction book (1996)
  • And just to put the icing on the cake, CybeServe intended its new bot to be humanlike: bipedal, about six feet in height, with multijointed arms and legs and five fingers on each hand.

    Fiction book (2000)
  • The robot was designed to exhibit humanlike behaviors, such as smiling and making eye contact.

Synonyms

humanoid
vshumanlike
44 6.1

With a body that looks like a human

is broader referring to likeness in traits beyond mere shape
lifelike
vshumanlike
22 3.9

That looks and moves like a real person or animal

is about resembling people specifically rather than general realism
anthropomorphic
vshumanlike
8 8.4

People describe animals and objects as having human form or feelings

focuses on general similarity rather than only attributing people traits
manlike
vshumanlike
1 6.2

Like an adult man in look or behavior

is broader applying to similarity to people without male focus
anthropoid
vshumanlike
1 7.9

Like a human in shape or appearance

covers similarity in many characteristics not only physical form
anthropomorphous
vshumanlike
  • Specialized
9.9

Having the shape and qualities of a human, like an animal or object

focuses on general similarity to people rather than only form
humaniform
vshumanlike
9.0

Showing feelings, thoughts, or actions like a person

is about likeness across behaviour thought feeling and appearance
humanish
vshumanlike
8.1

Looks and acts like a person

is stronger meaning a clearer resemblance to people

How Humanlike

human
1.0
humanlike
2 4.2
humanoid
44 6.1
inhuman
30 6.0
robotic
12 5.2

Surface Forms

humanlike positive

Morphology

humanlike = human (transparent) = human + like

The meaning is directly compositional: 'human' plus '-like' means resembling a human.

Etymology

The word humanlike is made from human ('person') and the part -like ('similar to'). So it literally means 'similar to a person', which is why we use it for things that look or act like people.