What does misanthropist mean?
A misanthropist is someone who dislikes or distrusts humanity as a whole. The word is more intellectual and evaluative than merely unfriendly: it suggests a judgment that people are selfish, dishonest, destructive, or incapable of lasting goodwill. A misanthropist may therefore be portrayed as cynical, pessimistic, or deeply alienated from society, although the word does not necessarily imply a desire to harm others. In literature and philosophical discussion, it can describe a character's worldview as well as an individual person. The related noun misanthropy names the attitude itself, while the adjective misanthropic describes a outlook, sentiment, or belief shaped by distrust of humanity. The term is most useful when emphasizing a general hostility toward human nature rather than conflict with one particular group or person.
nounA person who dislikes or distrusts humanity as a whole, especially someone who believes human beings are selfish, unreliable, or fundamentally bad.
- A person who dislikes, distrusts, or despairs of humanity as a whole.
"His years of isolation turned him into a bitter misanthropist who trusted no one."
"The character is presented as a cynical misanthropist who believes that kindness is rare and insincere."
"In the essay, the philosopher argues that apparent altruism often conceals the misanthropist's view of human nature."
The plural is used when referring to multiple people who share a distrust of humanity.
"The novel depicts several misanthropists who live isolated lives at the edges of society."
Misanthropist packs an entire moral philosophy into one word: the belief that humanity is not worth trusting.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does misanthropist come from?
Misanthropist is an English formation based on misanthropy, with the suffix -ist added to indicate a person associated with that attitude. Its components ultimately draw on Greek anthropos, meaning “human” or “human being,” and the negative prefix mis-, which conveys a wrong, harmful, or excessive quality in many English formations. The resulting word has long been associated with the moral-philosophical tradition of judging human nature as deeply flawed.
Related word forms
How misanthropist is actually used
This is a formal or literary term and is less common in everyday speech than the related nouns misanthrope and misanthropy. It generally describes a broad distrust of humanity rather than simple dislike of a particular person.
Easily confused with misanthropist
A misanthropist is a person who dislikes humanity, while a misanthrope is more commonly used as a noun for such a person and may also refer more broadly to a hostile or solitary attitude toward others.