cynic
cynic Lexical Profile
cynic Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A person who believes that people are motivated purely by self-interest rather than acting for honorable or unselfish reasons.
"Even a hardened cynic would have been moved by the community's generous response to the crisis."
A member of an ancient school of Greek philosophers founded by Antisthenes, who taught that virtue is the only good and that true happiness comes from self-control and independence from worldly desires.
"Diogenes of Sinope is the most famous ancient Cynic, known for carrying a lantern in daylight while claiming to search for an honest man."
Word Nuance & Usage
While a skeptic simply requires strong evidence before accepting a claim, a cynic actively assumes that human behavior is driven purely by selfishness rather than goodwill.
• Rhymes for cynic
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed via Latin from the Ancient Greek Kynikos ('dog-like'), derived from kyon ('dog'). The nickname originally referred to the ancient Greek philosophers who rejected social conventions and wealth, living shamelessly on the streets like dogs.