Dictionary

cynic en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• /ˈsɪnɪk/
• (US) audio

Etymology

From Middle English cynike, cynicke, from Middle French cynique, from Latin cynicus, from Ancient Greek κυνικός (kunikós), originally derived from the portico in Athens called Κυνόσαργες (Kunósarges), the earliest home of the Cynic school, later reinterpreted as being derived from κύων (kúōn, “dog”), in a contemptuous allusion to the uncouth and aggressive manners adopted by the members of the school.

Meanings

1. Synonym of cynical.
2. (not-comparable) Relating to the Dog Star.
   • the cynic, or Sothic, year; cynic cycle

Forms

Relateds

cynicism · cynical

Synonyms

cynical

Translations (50)

sq cinik (A person who believes that all people are motivated by selfishness) · nn kynikar (A person whose outlook is scornfully negative) · fr cynique (A person who believes that all people are motivated by selfishness) · he ציניקנית (A person who believes that all people are motivated by selfishness) · nl cynicus (A person who believes that all people are motivated by selfishness) · nn kynikar (A person who believes that all people are motivated by selfishness) · cs cynik (A person whose outlook is scornfully negative) · nb kyniker (A person whose outlook is scornfully negative) · de Zynikerin (A person whose outlook is scornfully negative) · nl cynicus (A person whose outlook is scornfully negative) · mi kaiwhakahāwea (A person whose outlook is scornfully negative) · gl cínico (A person who believes that all people are motivated by selfishness) · es cínico (A person whose outlook is scornfully negative) · pl cyniczka (A person who believes that all people are motivated by selfishness) · cmn 愤青 (A person who believes that all people are motivated by selfishness) · fa بدگمان (A person who believes that all people are motivated by selfishness) · nb kyniker (A person who believes that all people are motivated by selfishness) · da kyniker (A person who believes that all people are motivated by selfishness) · pt cínica (A person whose outlook is scornfully negative) · de Zyniker (A person whose outlook is scornfully negative) · fi kyynikko (A person whose outlook is scornfully negative) · de Zynikerin (A person who believes that all people are motivated by selfishness) · fr cynique (A person whose outlook is scornfully negative) · gl cínica (A person who believes that all people are motivated by selfishness) · ru ци́ник (A person who believes that all people are motivated by selfishness) · sv cyniker (A person who believes that all people are motivated by selfishness) · pl cyniczka (A person whose outlook is scornfully negative) · it cinico (A person who believes that all people are motivated by selfishness) · el κυνικός (A person whose outlook is scornfully negative) · el κυνικός (A person who believes that all people are motivated by selfishness) · fi kyynikko (A person who believes that all people are motivated by selfishness) · pl cynik (A person who believes that all people are motivated by selfishness) · he ציניקן (A person who believes that all people are motivated by selfishness) · da kyniker (A person whose outlook is scornfully negative) · gl cínica (A person whose outlook is scornfully negative) · sh cìnik (A person whose outlook is scornfully negative) · sv cyniker (A person whose outlook is scornfully negative) · hi दोषदर्शी (A person who believes that all people are motivated by selfishness) · it cinico (A person whose outlook is scornfully negative) · pt cínico (A person who believes that all people are motivated by selfishness) · sq cinik (A person whose outlook is scornfully negative) · cs cynik (A person who believes that all people are motivated by selfishness) · es cínico (A person who believes that all people are motivated by selfishness) · gl cínico (A person whose outlook is scornfully negative) · ru ци́ник (A person whose outlook is scornfully negative) · sh cìnik (A person who believes that all people are motivated by selfishness) · pl cynik (A person whose outlook is scornfully negative) · pt cínico (A person whose outlook is scornfully negative) · de Zyniker (A person who believes that all people are motivated by selfishness) · uk ци́нік (A person who believes that all people are motivated by selfishness)

cynic en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˈsɪnɪk/
• (US) audio

Etymology

From Middle English cynike, cynicke, from Middle French cynique, from Latin cynicus, from Ancient Greek κυνικός (kunikós), originally derived from the portico in Athens called Κυνόσαργες (Kunósarges), the earliest home of the Cynic school, later reinterpreted as being derived from κύων (kúōn, “dog”), in a contemptuous allusion to the uncouth and aggressive manners adopted by the members of the school.

Meanings

1. A person whose outlook is scornfully negative.
   • Well, that's one in the eye for the nay-sayers, the doubters, the cynics and assorted tosspots what make up the media and that. 2000 June 13, Darren Tackle, The Guardian:
   • The cynic surfaced, reminding him that she'd been accused of trying to spring the baby trap on Brad Comfort. 2010, Kathy Lynn Emerson, Family Lies:
   • "Accept your limitations," I'd warn her. "A lot of these kids are damaged beyond repair." And you know what her response was? That I was cynical. Which hit a nerve, I had to admit. I wasn't a cynic; I was a banged-up realist. You live to middle age, you begin to reckon with life's limits, you know? You lace up your sneakers and run it out. 2008, Wally Lamb, The Hour I First Believed, Ch.2, at p.29-30
2. A person who believes that all people are motivated by selfishness.

Forms