misanthropy
Americannoun
Etymology
Origin of misanthropy
From the Greek word mīsanthrōpía, dating back to 1650–60. See misanthrope, -y 3
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In 1991 Will Self disgorged himself on to the British literary scene with “The Quantity Theory of Insanity,” a book of short stories seething with misanthropy and logorrhea.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 20, 2026
“Hard Truths” is a difficult movie, but Jean-Baptiste is so good at showing the pain behind her character’s misanthropy.
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 21, 2025
Part of his charisma is in his quiet determination, which often translates as pessimistic stubbornness tinged with misanthropy.
From Salon • Sep. 10, 2023
Threlfall’s titanic performance in this Royal Court Theater and Atlantic Theater Company production offers the most terrifying incarnation yet of the author’s acid misanthropy.
From New York Times • Apr. 21, 2022
And he could never know that Charley’s interest in him was purely courteous; if he did, he would be hurt in his misanthropy, for Charley has no interest in cats whatever, even for chasing purposes.
From "Travels with Charley in Search of America" by John Steinbeck
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
