Definition of cynic Cynic
/sɪˈnɪk/ - [sinik] - cyn•ic
We found 14 definitions of cynic from 8 different sources.
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What does cynic mean?
WordNet
NounPlural: cynics |
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| cynic - someone who is critical of the motives of others | ||
| faultfinder | ||
| disagreeable person, unpleasant person a person who is not pleasant or agreeable | ||
| cynic - 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 | ||
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Wiktionary 
Webster DictionaryWebster's Unabridged Dictionary 📘
- cynic (a.)
Alt. of Cynical - cynic (n.)
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. - cynic (n.)
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.
OmegaWiki DictionaryOmegaWiki Dictionary Ω
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cynic
Someone who is critical of the motives of others. -
cynic
Inclined to believe the worst about people.
Chambers DictionaryChamber's 20th Century Dictionary 📕
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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.]
Foolish DictionaryThe Foolish Dictionary 🤡
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cynic
A man who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing.
Wikipedia 
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The Cynics (,) were an important group of philosophers from the ancient school of Cynicism. Their philosophy taught that the purpose of life was to live a life of Virtue in agreement with Nature. This meant rejecting all the usual desires for wealth, power, health, and fame, and by living a life free from all possessions. People are reasoning creatures. They could therefore gain happiness by rigorous training and by living in a way which was natural for humans. They believed that the world belonged equally to everyone, and that suffering was caused by false judgments of what was valuable and by the worthless customs and conventions which surrounded society. Many of these thoughts were later absorbed into Stoicism.
The first philosopher to outline these themes was Antisthenes, who had been a pupil of Socrates in the late 5th century BCE. He was followed by Diogenes of Sinope, who lived in a tub on the streets of Athens, 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 many of its ascetic and rhetorical ideas were adopted by early Christians.
Part of speech
🔤- cynic, noun, singular of cynics.
- cynic, adjective.
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