What does Cynicism mean?
Definitions for Cynicism
ˈsɪn əˌsɪz əmcyn·i·cism
This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word Cynicism.
Princeton's WordNet
cynicismnoun
a cynical feeling of distrust
Wiktionary
Cynicismnoun
the philosophy of the Greek Cynics
cynicismnoun
a distrustful attitude
David T Wolf: "Idealism is what precedes experience; cynicism is what follows."
cynicismnoun
an emotion of jaded negativity, or a general distrust of the integrity or professed motives of other people. Cynicism can manifest itself by frustration, disillusionment and distrust in regard to organizations, authorities and other aspects of society, often due to previous bad experience. Cynics often view others as motivated solely by disguised self-interest.
cynicismnoun
a skeptical, scornful or pessimistic comment or act
Etymology: From Cynicism, ; compare cynism
ChatGPT
cynicism
Cynicism is a general distrust or disbelief in the sincerity or goodness of human intentions and actions. It involves being skeptical about the motives of others, often expressing this attitude through negative or critical comments and behaviors. Cynics typically question whether people act for altruistic reasons rather than for self-interest.
Webster Dictionary
Cynicismnoun
the doctrine of the Cynics; the quality of being cynical; the mental state, opinions, or conduct, of a cynic; morose and contemptuous views and opinions
Wikidata
Cynicism
Cynicism is a school of ancient Greek philosophy as practiced by the Cynics. For the Cynics, the purpose of life was to live in virtue, in agreement with nature. As reasoning creatures, people could gain happiness by rigorous training and by living in a way which was natural for humans, rejecting all conventional desires for wealth, power, sex, and fame. Instead, they were to lead a simple life free from all possessions. The first philosopher to outline these themes was Antisthenes, who had been a pupil of Socrates in the late 5th century BC. He was followed by Diogenes of Sinope, who lived in a tub on the streets of Athens. Diogenes took Cynicism to its logical extremes, and came to be seen as the archetypal Cynic philosopher. He was followed by Crates of Thebes who gave away a large fortune so he could live a life of Cynic poverty in Athens. Cynicism spread with the rise of Imperial Rome in the 1st century, and Cynics could be found begging and preaching throughout the cities of the Empire. It finally disappeared in the late 5th century, although some have claimed that early Christianity adopted many of its ascetic and rhetorical ideas.
Matched Categories
Numerology
Chaldean Numerology
The numerical value of Cynicism in Chaldean Numerology is: 3
Pythagorean Numerology
The numerical value of Cynicism in Pythagorean Numerology is: 5
Examples of Cynicism in a Sentence
Fear can lead us to lash out against those who are different or lead us to try to get some sinister 'other' under control, alternatively, fear can lead us to succumb to despair or paralysis or cynicism.
The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those who have not got it.
I think there ought to be a club in which preachers and journalists could come together and have the sentimentalism of the one matched with the cynicism of the other. That ought to bring them pretty close to the truth.
Life is not an easy matter. You cannot live through it without falling into frustration and cynicism unless you have before you a great idea which raises you above personal misery, above weakness, above all kinds of perfidy and baseness.
President Barack Obama on Friday:
May we always remember that our shared heritage makes us stronger, that our roots are intertwined, may we always choose faith over nihilism, and courage over despair, and hope over cynicism and fear.
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Translations for Cynicism
From our Multilingual Translation Dictionary
- السخريةArabic
- cinismeCatalan, Valencian
- cynismusCzech
- kynismeDanish
- ZynismusGerman
- κυνισμόςGreek
- cinismoSpanish
- kyynisyysFinnish
- cynismeFrench
- ցինիզմArmenian
- cinismoItalian
- 皮肉, キニク主義Japanese
- 냉소Korean
- sinisisme, sinismeMalay
- cynismeDutch
- kynismeNorwegian
- cynizmPolish
- cinismoPortuguese
- cinismRomanian
- цинизмRussian
- cinizam, цинизамSerbo-Croatian
- cynismSwedish
- sinizmTurkish
- цинізмUkrainian
- 玩世不恭Chinese
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"Cynicism." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 27 Apr. 2024. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/Cynicism>.
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