Etymology

cynical

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Today it means: Of or relating to the belief that human actions are motivated only or primarily by base desires or selfishness. Full definition →

Ancient Greek κυνικός
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cynical · adjective1

  1. Ancient Greek · derived fromκυνικός“doglike”
  2. English todaycynical

Originated 1542, from Classical Latin cynicus (“Cynic/cynic”, adjective) + -al. By surface analysis, cynic + -al. In reference to dogs, with allusion to the ultimate etymology (Ancient Greek κυνικός (kunikós, “doglike”)).

Cynical · adjective2

From Cynic + -al.

Words from the same roots

Ancient Greekκυνικός all →

cynic

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.