cynism

C3Y4N1I1S1M3
UK/ˈsɪnɪzm/

noun

cynicism

OriginFrench cynisme ← Late Latin cynismus ← Ancient Greek κυνισμός →
Scrabble 13
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Meanings

nouncynism (usually uncountable, plural cynisms)

plural cynisms

  1. uncountableusuallycynicism

Origin

  1. Ancient Greekκυνισμός“philosophy of the Cynics”
  2. Late Latincynismus
  3. Frenchcynisme
  4. Englishcynism

From French cynisme, from Late Latin cynismus, from Ancient Greek κυνισμός (kunismós, “philosophy of the Cynics”), from κυν- (kun-), stem of κύων (kúōn, “dog”, “Cynic”); compare cynicism.

More words from French, Late Latin, Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

cynism. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cynism

MLA

“cynism.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cynism. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “cynism,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cynism.

Source: cynism on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.