Transcription
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
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- [sin-ik]
- /ˈsɪn ɪk/
- /ˈsɪn.ɪk/
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
-
- [sin-ik]
- /ˈsɪn ɪk/
Definitions of cynic word
- countable noun cynic A cynic is someone who believes that people always act selfishly. 3
- noun cynic a person who believes the worst about people or the outcome of events 3
- adjective cynic of or relating to Sirius, the Dog Star 3
- noun cynic a member of a sect founded by Antisthenes that scorned worldly things and held that self-control was the key to the only good 3
- noun cynic a member of a school of ancient Greek philosophers who held virtue to be the only good and stressed independence from worldly needs and pleasures: they became critical of the rest of society and its material interests 3
- noun cynic a cynical person 3
Information block about the term
Origin of cynic
First appearance:
before 1540 One of the 30% oldest English words
1540-50; < LatinCynicus < Greek Kynikós Cynic, literally, doglike, currish, equivalent to kyn- (stem of kýōn) dog + -ikos -ic
Historical Comparancy
Parts of speech for Cynic
noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
cynic popularity
A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 86% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
This word is included in each student's vocabulary. Most likely there is at least one movie with this word in the title.
cynic usage trend in Literature
This diagram is provided by Google Ngram ViewerSynonyms for cynic
noun cynic
- skeptic — a person who questions the validity or authenticity of something purporting to be factual.
- doubter — to be uncertain about; consider questionable or unlikely; hesitate to believe.
- pessimist — a person who habitually sees or anticipates the worst or is disposed to be gloomy.
- detractor — The detractors of a person or thing are people who criticize that person or thing.
- unbeliever — a person who does not believe.
adjective cynic
- misanthropical — of, relating to, or characteristic of a misanthrope.
- ironical — pertaining to, of the nature of, exhibiting, or characterized by irony or mockery: an ironical compliment; an ironical smile.
Antonyms for cynic
Top questions with cynic
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