Cynisch

Cynisch is an adjective used in Dutch and German to describe a person or attitude that doubts the sincerity of others' motives and often regards actions as driven by self-interest. In everyday language it can refer to speech or behavior that is sharp, contemptuous, or ironic about moral norms or human motives. In Dutch, cynisch functions as a general descriptor and appears in phrases such as cynische humor or een cynische kijk. In German, the corresponding standard adjective is zynisch; cynisch is mainly a loanword and relatively rare in formal writing, though it is understood in contemporary media.

Etymology and historical background: The word derives from the Greek kynikos meaning “dog-like,” in reference to the Cynics, a philosophical school associated with Antisthenes and Diogenes of Sinope, who criticized social conventions and proclaimed virtue according to nature. The term passed into Latin as cynicus and entered the modern Germanic and Dutch languages through Latin or French, giving rise to zynisch and cynisch variants and their related nouns such as Zyniker or Cyniker and Zynismus.

Usage and nuances: Cynicism as a stance denotes suspicion toward genuine motives, often accompanied by bitterness or biting irony. As a descriptive term, cynisch emphasizes a critical, skeptical, or disrespectful outlook toward others’ statements and societal norms. In philosophy, Cynicism refers to the ancient school, whereas in everyday language the emphasis is on a temperament or style of communication.