cynicism
noun
- attitude or state of mind characterized by a general distrust of others' motives
Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /ˈsɪn.ɪˌsɪzəm/
name
Etymology: Etymology tree English Cynic Proto-Indo-European *-id- Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-idyéti Proto-Hellenic *-íďďō Ancient Greek -ῐ́ζω (-ĭ́zō) Proto-Indo-European *-mos Proto-Indo-European *-mós Ancient Greek -μός (-mós) Ancient Greek -ισμός (-ismós)der. English -ism English Cynicism From Cynic + -ism.
- the philosophy of the Greek Cynics
noun
Etymology: From Cynicism, cynic + -ism; compare cynism.
- A distrustful attitude.
- An emotion of jaded negativity, or a general distrust of the integrity or professed motives of others, due to belief that people are motivated solely by disguised self-interest.
- A scornfully pessimistic comment or act.
- A school of thought in the philosophy of Ancient Greece.