Misanthrope
/ˈmɪsənθroʊp/
nounC2
Definition
A misanthrope is someone who does not like people very much. They often feel unhappy or suspicious around others and may avoid social situations. This word describes a strong feeling of dislike or distrust toward human beings in general.
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See It in Action
A person who dislikes or distrusts people generally
- •The old man was known as a misanthrope because he never spoke to his neighbors.
- •After many bad experiences, she became a misanthrope and avoided social events.
- •The character in the play is a misanthrope who lives alone and hates company.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of 'misanthrope' like 'loner,' but much stronger—it means not just being alone, but not liking people at all
- ✓Picture a person sitting alone on a bench, looking unhappy and not wanting anyone near
- ✓It's the feeling when you want to stay away from crowds because you don’t trust people or don’t like their behavior
- ✓Sounds like 'MISS-an-thrope' → Imagine someone missing (not liking) all people, like they want to miss the crowd completely
- ✓Think of the character Ebenezer Scrooge from stories, who is grumpy and does not like people at first
- ✓NOT like 'shy' (quiet or nervous around people)—a misanthrope actively dislikes or distrusts people, not just quiet
- ✓NOT like 'introvert' (someone who likes being alone but may still like people)—a misanthrope dislikes people in general
- ✓NOT like 'antisocial' (someone who breaks social rules)—a misanthrope avoids people because of dislike, not because of behavior problems
Try Other Words
- •Loner: a person who prefers to be alone (Use when focus is on being alone, not necessarily disliking people)
- •Cynic: someone who doubts others' good intentions (Use when the person distrusts motives more than disliking people)
- •Hermit: a person who lives alone and away from society (Use when the person lives isolated, focus on lifestyle rather than feelings)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: "mis-" (bad, wrong) + "anthrope" (from Greek "anthropos," meaning human or man)
- •Etymology: From Greek roots meaning "bad human" or "one who dislikes humans"
- •Historical development: Used since the 1500s to describe people who dislike human society
- •Modern usage: Often used in literature or descriptions of people who avoid others due to dislike or distrust
Reflect & Connect
•Can someone be a misanthrope but still care about a few people? How does that work?
•How does society view misanthropes, and can this word be used in a positive or negative way?
Fill in the blanks
1.A misanthrope often ___ social events because they do not like being around people.
2.When someone becomes a misanthrope, it usually happens after ___ experiences with others.
3.Unlike a shy person, a misanthrope actively ___ people rather than just feeling nervous.
4.The word misanthrope sounds like someone who wants to ___ all humans.
5.A misanthrope may live alone, but this is because of ___, not just preference.
6.If a person trusts others easily, they are the opposite of a ___.
7.In stories, a misanthrope is often shown as a character who ___ from society because of dislike.