Word Meanings - CYNIC - Book Publishers vocabulary database

1. 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

Additional info about word: CYNIC

1. 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. 2. 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. He could obtain from one morose cynic, whose opinion it was impossible to despise, scarcely any not acidulated with scorn. Macaulay.

Possible synonyms: (Same meaning words of CYNIC)

• Abderite
• Cynic
• sardonic
• derisive
• sarcastic
• jocular
• flippant
• nonchalant
• sportive
• sprightful
• buoyant
• Backbiter
• Detractor
• traducer
• calumniator
• slanderer
• cynic
• maligner
• defamer
• Slanderer
• backbiter

Related words: (words related to CYNIC)

• DEFAMER
  One who defames; a slanderer; a detractor; a calumniator.
• NONCHALANT
  Indifferent; careless; cool. (more info) concern one's self for, fr. L. calere to be warm, to be inflamed with
• FLIPPANT
  limber, pliant, or Icel. fleipa to babble, prattle. Cf. Flip, Fillip, 1. Of smooth, fluent, and rapid speech; speaking with ease and rapidity; having a voluble tongue; talkative. It becometh good men, in such cases, to be flippant and free in their
• SPRIGHTFUL
  Full of spirit or of life; earnest; vivacious; lively; brisk; nimble; gay. -- Spright"ful*ly, adv. Shak. -- Spright"ful*ness, n. Spoke like a sprightful gentlemen. Shak. Steeds sprightful as the light. Cowley.
• CALUMNIATORY
  Containing calumny; slanderous. Montagu.
• DERISIVE
  Expressing, serving for, or characterized by, derision. "Derisive taunts." Pope. -- De*ri"sive*ly, adv. -- De*ri"sive*ness, n.
• SPORTIVE
  Tending to, engaged in, or provocate of, sport; gay; froliscome; playful; merry. Is it I That drive thee from the sportive court Shak. -- Sport"ive*ly, adv. -- Sport"ive*ness, n.
• BACKBITER
  One who backbites; a secret calumniator or detractor.
• CYNICALNESS
  The quality of being cynical.
• CYNIC; CYNICAL
  1. Having the qualities of a surly dog; snarling; captious; currish. I hope it is no very cynical asperity not to confess obligations where no benefit has been received. Johnson. 2. Pertaining to the Dog Star; as, the cynic, or Sothic, year; cynic
• JOCULARITY
  Jesting; merriment.
• NONCHALANTLY
  In a nonchalant, indifferent, or careless manner; coolly.
• FLIPPANTNESS
  State or quality of being flippant.
• CYNIC
  1. 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
• MALIGNER
  One who maligns.
• SARDONIC
  Forced; unnatural; insincere; hence, derisive, mocking, malignant, or bitterly sarcastic; -- applied only to a laugh, smile, or some facial semblance of gayety. Where strained, sardonic smiles are glozing still, And grief is forced to laugh against
• SLANDERER
  One who slanders; a defamer; a calumniator. Jer. Taylor.
• TRADUCER
  1. One who traduces; a slanderer; a calumniator. Bp. Hall. 2. One who derives or deduces. Fuller.
• CALUMNIATOR
  One who calumniates. Syn. -- Slanderer; defamer; libeler; traducer.
• JOCULARY
  Jocular; jocose; sportive. Bacon.