Term: cynic

cynic (noun): a person who believes that people are motivated purely by self-interest rather than honorable or unselfish reasons; someone who expects the worst of human nature. 

synonyms: skeptic, pessimist, misanthrope, doubter. 

pronunciation: /ˈsɪnɪk/ 

translation: ciniķis 

example: I’m too much of a cynic to believe that the politician is making these promises for anything other than votes. 

other words from this root: cynical (adjective), cynically (adverb), cynicism (noun).

Nuance: Cynic vs. Skeptic

While often used interchangeably, there is a subtle difference in their outlook:

• Skeptic: Doubts something until there is proof; they have an open but questioning mind.
• Cynic: Generally believes the motives are already bad; they have a negative bias toward human intentions.

Historical Context

The word comes from the Cynics, a school of ancient Greek philosophers who lived simply and rejected conventional desires for wealth, power, and fame to focus on virtue. Over time, the meaning shifted to focus on the “rejection” and “distrust” aspect.