Misanthropist
/ˌmɪsənˈθrɒpɪst/
nounC1
Definition
A misanthropist is someone who feels a strong dislike or lack of trust toward people in general. This person may avoid social activities because they believe others are bad or unkind. The word often describes a deep feeling, not just a small annoyance with others.
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See It in Action
A person who dislikes or distrusts people
- •The misanthropist avoided parties and social events.
- •Some misanthropists believe that people are selfish and harmful.
- •He was called a misanthropist because he rarely spoke to anyone.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "misanthropist" like "someone who doesn't like people" but much stronger and more serious than just "shy" or "quiet"
- ✓Picture a person sitting alone on a hill, watching the world but not joining in, because they feel people are not good
- ✓It’s the feeling when you are tired of being hurt or disappointed by others and want to stay away from social groups
- ✓Sounds like "MISS-an-thro-pist" → imagine someone missing (not liking) the "throp" part, which is from the Greek word for people
- ✓Think of the character "Scrooge" from stories who doesn’t trust or like people much at first
- ✓NOT like "introvert" (someone who likes being alone but not because they dislike people), misanthropist dislikes people themselves
- ✓NOT like "loner" (someone alone by choice or circumstance), misanthropist dislikes people and prefers to avoid them
- ✓NOT like "cynic" (someone who doubts others’ good intentions), misanthropist’s dislike is more about people in general, not just their motives
Try Other Words
- •Cynic: someone who doubts people’s honesty or goodness (Use when the focus is on doubting motives, not general dislike)
- •Loner: someone who prefers to be alone (Use when the person chooses solitude but does not necessarily dislike others)
- •Introvert: someone who feels more comfortable alone or with few people (Use when describing personality, not dislike)
- •Hater: someone who strongly dislikes something or someone (Use in informal contexts for dislike, but less specific than misanthropist)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: "mis-" (wrong, bad) + "anthrop" (people, human) + "-ist" (person who does or believes something)
- •Etymology: From Greek "misos" meaning hatred + "anthropos" meaning human being + English suffix "-ist"
- •Historical development: Used since the 1600s to describe someone who hates or distrusts people generally
- •Modern usage: Often used in literature and psychology to describe people who avoid society because of dislike or distrust of humans
Reflect & Connect
•Can a misanthropist change their feelings about people? What might help them trust again?
•How does society view misanthropists, and is it fair to label someone this way quickly?
Fill in the blanks
1.A misanthropist often avoids social gatherings because they ___ trust or like other people.
2.Unlike an introvert, a misanthropist dislikes people ___, not just prefers quiet.
3.When someone is called a misanthropist, it usually means they have a strong ___ toward humanity.
4.The misanthropist might ___ kindness from others because they expect selfishness.
5.A person who is a misanthropist may feel ___ or unhappy when around crowds.
6.Not all quiet people are misanthropists; some just need ___ time alone.
7.The misanthropist’s attitude toward people is different from a cynic’s because it is more about ___ dislike, not just doubt.