Agency Dictionary
Cynical
adjectivePronunciation: /ˈsɪn.ɪ.kəl/
In Portuguese: Cínico
Psychology & Mind
Philosophy & EthicsWhat does “Cynical” mean?
Believing that people are motivated purely by self-interest; expressing distrust, sarcasm, or skepticism regarding human sincerity.
Etymology
Formed in the 16th century from Latin cynicus with the suffix -al. Cynicus renders Greek kynikos, "dog-like", from kyon, "dog", the name given to the Cynics, the school of philosophers who followed Antisthenes and Diogenes and scorned wealth, comfort and convention. Ancient sources explain the name in two ways, by the shameless, dog-like life of its members or by the Cynosarges, the gymnasium in Athens where Antisthenes taught, and it is not settled which came first. The present sense, distrust of human motives, grew from the sneering attitude attributed to the school.
Usage note
With a capital letter, Cynic refers to the ancient school; in lower case the words describe an attitude of distrust and have lost the link with philosophy.
Synonyms
- distrustful
- sceptical
- jaded
- sardonic
- mistrustful
- disillusioned
Often confused with
- cynical
- The pair is a partial false friend: English cynical stresses distrust of other people's motives, while Portuguese cínico more often means shameless, said of someone who lies or does wrong without embarrassment.
- sceptical
- A sceptical person withholds belief until there is evidence; a cynical person assumes in advance that the motives behind an action are selfish.
Word family
- cynic
- cynicism
- cynically
Rhymes with
- clinical
- rabbinical
Concept
Source editions
Where this entry comes from in the Agency editorial.
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