nounnounadjective
le cynique
cynical
Definition & meaning
Cynique means cynical. It can describe:
- Someone who openly disregards morality or other people’s feelings, often without shame.
- An attitude that distrusts people’s sincerity and assumes they act out of self-interest.
- In philosophy, a Cynic: a person belonging to an ancient Greek school that rejected social conventions and material comforts.
Grammar & Word origin
Cynique is an adjective with the same form in the masculine and feminine singular; its plural is cyniques. It can also be a noun: un cynique or une cynique.
It comes from Latin cynicus, from Greek kynikos, meaning “dog-like,” a name associated with the ancient philosophical school.
Synonyms & antonyms
- désabusé — disillusioned; suggests disappointment rather than a disregard for morality.
- sceptique — skeptical; expresses doubt without necessarily implying cynicism.
- sans scrupules — unscrupulous; emphasizes a lack of moral restraint.
Opposites depend on the sense:
- idéaliste — idealistic, rather than distrustful or disillusioned.
- scrupuleux — conscientious, rather than morally shameless.
Common phrases & collocations
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Examples
Son attitude cynique lui a causé beaucoup de problèmes au travail.adjective
His cynical attitude caused him a lot of trouble at work.
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