cynic

[ sin-ik ]

noun

1. a person who believes that only selfishness motivates human actions and who disbelieves in or minimizes selfless acts or disinterested points of view.

   Synonyms: misanthrope, pessimist, skeptic

2. (initial capital letter) one of a sect of Greek philosophers, 4th century b.c., who advocated the doctrines that virtue is the only good, that the essence of virtue is self-control, and that surrender to any external influence is beneath human dignity.
3. a person who shows or expresses a bitterly or sneeringly cynical attitude.

   Synonyms: misanthrope, pessimist, skeptic

adjective

1. cynical.
2. (initial capital letter) Also Cynical. of or relating to the Cynics or their doctrines.
3. Medicine/Medical Now Rare. resembling the actions of a snarling dog.

Cynic

¹

/ ˈsɪnɪk /

noun

1. a member of a sect founded by Antisthenes that scorned worldly things and held that self-control was the key to the only good

cynic

²

/ ˈsɪnɪk /

noun

1. a person who believes the worst about people or the outcome of events

adjective

1. a less common word for cynical
2. astronomy of or relating to Sirius, the Dog Star

Other Words From

• an·ti·cyn·ic noun adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of cynic¹

First recorded in 1540–50; from Latin Cynicus, from Greek Kynikós “Cynic,” literally, “doglike, currish,” equivalent to kyn-, stem of kýōn “dog” + -ikos -ic ( def )

Word History and Origins

Origin of cynic¹

C16: via Latin from Greek Kunikos, from kuōn dog

Example Sentences

In his new book ‘Hope for Cynics,’ Stanford psychology professor Jamil Zaki explains how cynicism became an American epidemic — and how to cure it.

From Los Angeles Times

The first, titled "The Cynic," came out in 2014, on the eve of his ascension to Senate majority leader.

From Salon

“Cynics and young adults will not listen to us talk about Jesus if we say we do not condone people they love and care about,” Howell said.

From Seattle Times

Cynic, realist, whatever: when I stood around chatting with my free drink, surrounded by optimism, I harbored some reservations about the usefulness of analog astronautics and the motivations of the participants.

From Scientific American

Cynics might be forgiven for thinking that the decision last June, in Dobbs v.

From New York Times

Related Words

• detractor
• doubter
• pessimist
• skeptic