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 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

Cynic

²

/ 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

Other Word Forms

• anticynic noun

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

The new Scottish Secretary has said Labour can "disprove the critics and cynics" by bouncing back ahead of next year's Holyrood election.

From BBC

In “Materialists,” Johnson combines movie-star flair and quiet skill for a performance dynamic enough to silence her cynics, so long as they approach it with an open mind.

From Salon

So I’m excited to hopefully cultivate a new batch of cynics and magic lovers and bring them along for the ride.

From Los Angeles Times

"Maybe that's the cynic in me," she says, shaking her head.

From BBC

Trump has said he does not intend to scale back Social Security benefits, but the Leisure World cynics don’t believe him.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• detractor 
• doubter www.thesaurus.com
• pessimist 
• skeptic