misanthrope

[ mis-uhn-throhp, miz- ]

noun

1. a person who hates, dislikes, or distrusts most others; an antisocial, cynical, or unfriendly person:

   They’re a bunch of mean-spirited misanthropes, smugly indifferent to the misfortunes of others.

misanthrope

/ ˈmɪzənˌθrəʊp; mɪˈzænθrəpɪ; mɪˈzænθrəpɪst; ˌmɪzənˈθrɒpɪk /

noun

1. a person who dislikes or distrusts other people or mankind in general

Derived Forms

• misanthropic, adjective
• ˌmisanˈthropically, adverb
• misanthropy, noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of misanthrope¹

First recorded in 1680–90; from French misanthrope (noun and adjective), from Greek mīsánthrōpos “hating humankind”; miso-, anthropo-

Word History and Origins

Origin of misanthrope¹

C17: from Greek mīsanthrōpos, from misos hatred + anthrōpos man

Example Sentences

Trump is an equal-opportunity misanthrope who hates anyone who won’t kiss his ring.

From Salon

A Mariners misanthrope had an all-you-can-hate buffet in front of him Wednesday between the lack of hitting, wayward pitching and nonexistent “D.”

From Seattle Times

Prompted by her annoyance with humanity, Amanda, a prickly misanthrope, rents a house to which she, Clay and their teenagers decamp.

From New York Times

Set over Christmas in 1970, Lamb is sharing the mistletoe with a misanthrope.

From BBC

Hunham, like Giamatti’s struggling writer Miles Raymond of “Sideways,” is a prickly misanthrope stuck in a midlife stasis.

From Washington Times