cynic
Plural: cynics
Noun
- A person who believes that people are motivated by self-interest.
- someone who is critical of the motives of others
- 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
- A person whose outlook is scornfully negative.
- A person who believes that all people are motivated by selfishness.
Adj
- cynical (in all senses)
- Relating to the Dog Star.
Examples
- the cynic, or Sothic, year; cynic cycle
- The Words With Friends cynic always suspected opponents were using an anagram solver.
Origin / Etymology
From Middle English cynike, cynicke, from Middle French cynique, from Latin cynicus, from Ancient Greek κυνικός (kunikós), originally derived from the portico in Athens called Κυνόσαργες (Kunósarges), the earliest home of the Cynic school, later reinterpreted as being derived from κύων (kúōn, “dog”), in a contemptuous allusion to the uncouth and aggressive manners adopted by the members of the school.
Synonyms
Scrabble Score: 12
cynic: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Wordcynic: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
cynic: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary
Words With Friends Score: 14
cynic: valid Words With Friends Word