misanthrope

American  

[mis-uhn-throhp, miz-] / ˈmɪs ənˌθroʊp, ˈmɪz- /

Sometimes misanthropist

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.

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misanthrope British  

/ ˈmɪzənˌθrəʊp, mɪˈzænθrəpɪ, mɪˈzænθrəpɪst, ˌmɪzənˈθrɒpɪk /

noun

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

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Other Word Forms

• misanthropic adjective
• misanthropically adverb
• misanthropy noun

Etymology

Origin of misanthrope

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

Explanation

A misanthrope is a person who hates or mistrusts other people. Your great aunt Edna who lashes out at anyone who approaches, convinced they'll steal the jewelry she keeps in her handbag on her lap? A misanthrope indeed. This is a formal word, derived from Greek misanthrōpos "hating mankind," from misein "to hate" plus anthrōpos "a man." From the same root, we get the English word anthropology "the study of humans." If you make a statement or do something that is particularly hostile or untrusting, you can call that misanthropic.

Example Sentences

He is a swindler, a snob and a savage misanthrope.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 2, 2026

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 • Apr. 3, 2024

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 • Dec. 7, 2023

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

From BBC • Dec. 4, 2023

He was elected over his own objections: He was too impatient with people, he freely admitted, and was basically a misanthrope.

From "Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing" by Ted Conover