cynic

Meanings

• noun

  A person who believes that people are motivated purely by self-interest; a disbeliever in the goodness of human nature.

  - "John's cynical attitude towards politics made him stop voting."
  - "The cynic in the group predicted that the project would fail."

• noun

  A person who expresses skepticism and disbelief, often cynically.

  - "The cynic in the crowd laughed when the speaker promised a brighter future."
  - "Mary's cynical comments about love made her friends uncomfortable."

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Pronunciation

1. /ˈsɪnɪk/
   
   
   
   Source: "https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1780014"

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Rhymes

Words rhyming with cynic
dymic , hymnic , tymic

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Variants

List of all variants of cynic that leads to same result
cynic , cynics

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Etymology

origin and the way in which meanings have changed throughout history.

Originally, a Cynic was a follower of the philosophical school of Cynicism, which originated in Ancient Greece and valued self-sufficiency, simplicity, and living in poverty.

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Trivia

Any details, considerations, events or pieces of information regarding the word

1. The term 'cynic' comes from the Greek word 'kynikos', which means 'dog-like'. This refers to the Cynic philosophers' belief in living a simple, natural life, like a dog.

2. One famous Cynic philosopher was Diogenes of Sinope, who is said to have lived in a barrel and famously searched for an honest man.

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Related Concepts

informations on related concepts or terms closely associated with the word. Discuss semantic fields or domains that the word belongs to

1. Skeptic: A skeptic doubts the validity or authenticity of something, often based on a lack of evidence or logical reasoning. While a cynic may be skeptical, they go a step further by assuming that people are motivated purely by self-interest.

2. Misanthrope: A misanthrope is a person who dislikes humankind and avoids human society. While a cynic may be skeptical of people, they do not necessarily avoid them.

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Culture

Any cultural, historical, or symbolic significance of the word. Explore how the word has been used in literature, art, music, or other forms of expression.

The term 'cynic' has been used extensively in literature, particularly in works of satire and humor, to portray a character who is skeptical and disbelieving. In art, cynics have been depicted as solitary figures, often with a scowl or a bitter expression.

How to Memorize "cynic"

1. visualize
   

   - Visualize a person with a scowl on their face, sitting alone in a dark corner, shaking their head in disbelief.

2. associate
   

   - Associate the word 'cynic' with the image of a grumpy old man or a skeptical philosopher.

3. mnemonics
   

   - Remember that a cynic is a 'disbeliever in the goodness of human nature'.

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