Definitions for cynic
ˈsɪn ɪkcyn·ic

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:5.0 / 1 vote

1. cynic, faultfindernoun

   someone who is critical of the motives of others

2. Cynicnoun

   a member of a group of ancient Greek philosophers who advocated the doctrine that virtue is the only good and that the essence of virtue is self-control

WiktionaryRate this definition:4.5 / 2 votes

1. cynicnoun

   A person who believes that all people are motivated by selfishness.

2. cynicnoun

   A person whose outlook is scornfully negative.

3. cynicadjective

   Churlish or satirical.

4. Cynicadjective

   Of or relating to the Cynics.

5. Cynicnoun

   A member of a sect of ancient Greek philosophers who believed virtue to be the only good and self-control to be the only means of achieving virtue.

6. Etymology: Originated 1540–50 from Latin Cynicus (cynic philosopher), from Κυνικός (Kynikós) (literally doglike, currish), from κύων (dog) + -ικός; see kwon-.

ChatGPTRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. cynic

   A cynic is a person who tends to have a negative and skeptical attitude towards other people, institutions, or events. They often believe that people are motivated solely by self-interest and are distrustful of other people's motives or intentions. Cynics typically question and criticize commonly accepted social norms, values, and beliefs.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Cynicadjective

   alt. of Cynical

2. Cynicnoun

   one of a sect or school of philosophers founded by Antisthenes, and of whom Diogenes was a disciple. The first Cynics were noted for austere lives and their scorn for social customs and current philosophical opinions. Hence the term Cynic symbolized, in the popular judgment, moroseness, and contempt for the views of others

3. Cynicnoun

   one who holds views resembling those of the Cynics; a snarler; a misanthrope; particularly, a person who believes that human conduct is directed, either consciously or unconsciously, wholly by self-interest or self-indulgence, and that appearances to the contrary are superficial and untrustworthy

Chambers 20th Century DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Cynic

   -al, sin′ik, -al, adj. dog-like: surly: snarling: austere; misanthropic.—ns. Cynan′thropy, lycanthropy; Cyn′ic, one of a sect of philosophers founded by Antisthenes of Athens (born c. 444 B.C.), characterised by an ostentatious contempt for riches, arts, science, and amusements—so called from their morose manners: a morose man: a snarler; Cyn′icism, surliness: contempt for human nature: heartlessness, misanthropy.—adv. Cyn′ically.—n. Cyn′icalness. [Gr. kynikos, dog-like—kyōn, kynos, a dog; cf. L. can-is.]

The Foolish Dictionary, by Gideon WurdzRate this definition:3.0 / 3 votes

1. CYNIC

   A man who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing. All work and no play makes Jack A Dead One. D Out of fight, out of coin.--_The Pugilist's Plaint_. DABBLE v. t., To play in water. =DABBLE IN STOCKS=--Same thing.

Suggested ResourcesRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. cynic

   Song lyrics by cynic -- Explore a large variety of song lyrics performed by cynic on the Lyrics.com website.

Matched Categories

1. • Philosopher
   • Unpleasant Person

Anagrams for cynic »

1. Cincy

How to pronounce cynic?

1. Alex

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   David

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   Mark

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   Daniel

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How to say cynic in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of cynic in Chaldean Numerology is: 4

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of cynic in Pythagorean Numerology is: 9

Examples of cynic in a Sentence

1. Marvin D. Levy:

   The day a person becomes a cynic is the day he loses his youth.

2. USA Today:

   This guy's all wide-eyed gumption and smirking confidence - not the cynic who gets a crash course in the Force later in life.

3. Vachel Lindsay:

   Never be a cynic, even a gentle one. Never help out a sneer, even at the devil.

4. Henry Ward Beecher:

   The cynic is one who never sees a good quality in a man, and never fails to see a bad one. He is a human owl, vigilant in darkness, and blind to light, mousing for vermin, and never seeing noble game.

5. Oscar Wilde:

   What is a cynic? A man who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

References

1. ^ Princeton's WordNet
   http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=cynic
2. ^ Wiktionary
   https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Cynic
3. ^ ChatGPT
   https://chat.openai.com
4. ^ Webster Dictionary
   https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cynic
5. ^ Chambers 20th Century Dictionary
   https://www.gutenberg.org/files/37683/37683-h/37683-h.htm#:~:text=cynic
6. ^ The Foolish Dictionary, by Gideon Wurdz
   https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/1989/pg1989-images.html#:~:text=cynic