Who is cynical?
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I believe that a certain politician is motivated by his/her own selfish interests, he/she having dispensed with social norms of morality.
So am I cynical, or is the politician I referred to cynical? I find the first two senses, as defined at
https://english.stackexchange.com/a/12459/251434, conflicting, and therefore, confusing.
meaning
asked Apr 6 at 20:54
Many TonguesMany Tongues
114
|
show 1 more comment
I believe that a certain politician is motivated by his/her own selfish interests, he/she having dispensed with social norms of morality.
So am I cynical, or is the politician I referred to cynical? I find the first two senses, as defined at
https://english.stackexchange.com/a/12459/251434, conflicting, and therefore, confusing.
meaning
asked Apr 6 at 20:54
Many TonguesMany Tongues
114
Welcome to ELU. Have you consulted a dictionary?
– AleksandrH
Apr 6 at 20:56
See my latest edit. I forgot to include the link. Sorry for the confusion.
– Many Tongues
Apr 6 at 21:06
1
It depends on where you are standing.
– Hot Licks
Apr 6 at 21:19
(Consider that you might both be cynics.)
– Hot Licks
Apr 6 at 21:27
1
Please clarify what you mean, Hot Licks. I am not clear on how your comment applies. Thanks.
– Many Tongues
Apr 6 at 21:44
|
show 1 more comment
I believe that a certain politician is motivated by his/her own selfish interests, he/she having dispensed with social norms of morality.
So am I cynical, or is the politician I referred to cynical? I find the first two senses, as defined at
https://english.stackexchange.com/a/12459/251434, conflicting, and therefore, confusing.
meaning
asked Apr 6 at 20:54
Many TonguesMany Tongues
114
I believe that a certain politician is motivated by his/her own selfish interests, he/she having dispensed with social norms of morality.
So am I cynical, or is the politician I referred to cynical? I find the first two senses, as defined at
https://english.stackexchange.com/a/12459/251434, conflicting, and therefore, confusing.
meaning
meaning
asked Apr 6 at 20:54
Many TonguesMany Tongues
114
asked Apr 6 at 20:54
Many TonguesMany Tongues
114
edited Apr 7 at 21:28
Many Tongues
asked Apr 6 at 20:54
Many TonguesMany Tongues
114
asked Apr 6 at 20:54
Many TonguesMany Tongues
114
asked Apr 6 at 20:54
Many TonguesMany Tongues
114
114
Welcome to ELU. Have you consulted a dictionary?
– AleksandrH
Apr 6 at 20:56
See my latest edit. I forgot to include the link. Sorry for the confusion.
– Many Tongues
Apr 6 at 21:06
1
It depends on where you are standing.
– Hot Licks
Apr 6 at 21:19
(Consider that you might both be cynics.)
– Hot Licks
Apr 6 at 21:27
1
Please clarify what you mean, Hot Licks. I am not clear on how your comment applies. Thanks.
– Many Tongues
Apr 6 at 21:44
|
show 1 more comment
Welcome to ELU. Have you consulted a dictionary?
– AleksandrH
Apr 6 at 20:56
See my latest edit. I forgot to include the link. Sorry for the confusion.
– Many Tongues
Apr 6 at 21:06
1
It depends on where you are standing.
– Hot Licks
Apr 6 at 21:19
(Consider that you might both be cynics.)
– Hot Licks
Apr 6 at 21:27
1
Please clarify what you mean, Hot Licks. I am not clear on how your comment applies. Thanks.
– Many Tongues
Apr 6 at 21:44
Welcome to ELU. Have you consulted a dictionary?
– AleksandrH
Apr 6 at 20:56
Welcome to ELU. Have you consulted a dictionary?
– AleksandrH
Apr 6 at 20:56
See my latest edit. I forgot to include the link. Sorry for the confusion.
– Many Tongues
Apr 6 at 21:06
See my latest edit. I forgot to include the link. Sorry for the confusion.
– Many Tongues
Apr 6 at 21:06
1
1
It depends on where you are standing.
– Hot Licks
Apr 6 at 21:19
It depends on where you are standing.
– Hot Licks
Apr 6 at 21:19
(Consider that you might both be cynics.)
– Hot Licks
Apr 6 at 21:27
(Consider that you might both be cynics.)
– Hot Licks
Apr 6 at 21:27
1
1
Please clarify what you mean, Hot Licks. I am not clear on how your comment applies. Thanks.
– Many Tongues
Apr 6 at 21:44
Please clarify what you mean, Hot Licks. I am not clear on how your comment applies. Thanks.
– Many Tongues
Apr 6 at 21:44
|
show 1 more comment
1 Answer
1
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oldest
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The definition you linked to includes two definitions of cynical, apparently from Collins English Dictionary
And it is true that people are often described as cynical when they are "showing contempt for accepted standards of honesty or morality by one's actions," as in the case of the politician you described.
However, usually, when one is referred to as a cynic (noun) in contemporary English, it means that they qualify for this definition, per the OED:
A person disposed to rail or find fault; now usually: One who shows a disposition to disbelieve in the sincerity or goodness of human motives and actions, and is wont to express this by sneers and sarcasms; a sneering fault-finder.
Based on usage, one might refer to someone like the politician you described with the adjective "cynical," but would be less likely to call them the noun "cynic." When the noun "cynic" is invoked, it usually applies to someone like yourself in this situation, who "disbelieve[s] in the sincerity or goodness of human motives and actions," as opposed to someone who "shows contempt for... standards of... morality."
If you want to give yourself some credit for holding these views about a particular politician and not people in general, you might not refer to yourself as a cynic but rather a skeptic.
answered Apr 6 at 23:11
RaceYouAnytimeRaceYouAnytime
19k244103
If person A commits homicide against person B, I think it's pretty clear that we would say that A had been homicidal. I am not aware that anyone would normally call person B homicidal.
– Many Tongues
Apr 7 at 21:15
Your analysis is interesting, but I think extraordinarily, complex to explain a simple English construction. Also note that both senses of the definition given in the post I referenced are for "cynical," not "cynic."
– Many Tongues
Apr 7 at 21:42
@ManyTongues Yes, I was focusing on the different usages of "cynic" and "cynical" based on the original title of the post ("who is a cynic"). The word "cynical" has undergone recent shifts in usage that I don't think apply as broadly to "cynic." I'm not sure what you're saying regarding homicide / homicidal, I don't think that's an analogous comparison.
– RaceYouAnytime
Apr 8 at 10:02
I was referring to the word constructions, namely the root word, "homicide," and the derivative adjectival form, "homicidal." Normally, when English derives an adjective from a noun, the words have related meanings, not conflicting meanings. I thought that was clear,sorry. I wasn't comparing the meanings of the two root words "homicide" and "cynic" or their adjectival derivatives, only their constructions.
– Many Tongues
Apr 10 at 1:46
I do agree that it does really appear that the word "cynical" has gone through a shift in meaning, possibly recently. I don't recall, for instance, while growing up, that people used it in this new sense, which (to me, at least) confuses AND conflates meaning. It always meant the first sense, having the belief of a cynic. Thank you for this exchange.
– Many Tongues
Apr 10 at 1:56
add a comment |
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The definition you linked to includes two definitions of cynical, apparently from Collins English Dictionary
And it is true that people are often described as cynical when they are "showing contempt for accepted standards of honesty or morality by one's actions," as in the case of the politician you described.
However, usually, when one is referred to as a cynic (noun) in contemporary English, it means that they qualify for this definition, per the OED:
A person disposed to rail or find fault; now usually: One who shows a disposition to disbelieve in the sincerity or goodness of human motives and actions, and is wont to express this by sneers and sarcasms; a sneering fault-finder.
Based on usage, one might refer to someone like the politician you described with the adjective "cynical," but would be less likely to call them the noun "cynic." When the noun "cynic" is invoked, it usually applies to someone like yourself in this situation, who "disbelieve[s] in the sincerity or goodness of human motives and actions," as opposed to someone who "shows contempt for... standards of... morality."
If you want to give yourself some credit for holding these views about a particular politician and not people in general, you might not refer to yourself as a cynic but rather a skeptic.
answered Apr 6 at 23:11
RaceYouAnytimeRaceYouAnytime
19k244103
If person A commits homicide against person B, I think it's pretty clear that we would say that A had been homicidal. I am not aware that anyone would normally call person B homicidal.
– Many Tongues
Apr 7 at 21:15
Your analysis is interesting, but I think extraordinarily, complex to explain a simple English construction. Also note that both senses of the definition given in the post I referenced are for "cynical," not "cynic."
– Many Tongues
Apr 7 at 21:42
@ManyTongues Yes, I was focusing on the different usages of "cynic" and "cynical" based on the original title of the post ("who is a cynic"). The word "cynical" has undergone recent shifts in usage that I don't think apply as broadly to "cynic." I'm not sure what you're saying regarding homicide / homicidal, I don't think that's an analogous comparison.
– RaceYouAnytime
Apr 8 at 10:02
I was referring to the word constructions, namely the root word, "homicide," and the derivative adjectival form, "homicidal." Normally, when English derives an adjective from a noun, the words have related meanings, not conflicting meanings. I thought that was clear,sorry. I wasn't comparing the meanings of the two root words "homicide" and "cynic" or their adjectival derivatives, only their constructions.
– Many Tongues
Apr 10 at 1:46
I do agree that it does really appear that the word "cynical" has gone through a shift in meaning, possibly recently. I don't recall, for instance, while growing up, that people used it in this new sense, which (to me, at least) confuses AND conflates meaning. It always meant the first sense, having the belief of a cynic. Thank you for this exchange.
– Many Tongues
Apr 10 at 1:56
add a comment |
The definition you linked to includes two definitions of cynical, apparently from Collins English Dictionary
And it is true that people are often described as cynical when they are "showing contempt for accepted standards of honesty or morality by one's actions," as in the case of the politician you described.
However, usually, when one is referred to as a cynic (noun) in contemporary English, it means that they qualify for this definition, per the OED:
A person disposed to rail or find fault; now usually: One who shows a disposition to disbelieve in the sincerity or goodness of human motives and actions, and is wont to express this by sneers and sarcasms; a sneering fault-finder.
Based on usage, one might refer to someone like the politician you described with the adjective "cynical," but would be less likely to call them the noun "cynic." When the noun "cynic" is invoked, it usually applies to someone like yourself in this situation, who "disbelieve[s] in the sincerity or goodness of human motives and actions," as opposed to someone who "shows contempt for... standards of... morality."
If you want to give yourself some credit for holding these views about a particular politician and not people in general, you might not refer to yourself as a cynic but rather a skeptic.
answered Apr 6 at 23:11
RaceYouAnytimeRaceYouAnytime
19k244103
If person A commits homicide against person B, I think it's pretty clear that we would say that A had been homicidal. I am not aware that anyone would normally call person B homicidal.
– Many Tongues
Apr 7 at 21:15
Your analysis is interesting, but I think extraordinarily, complex to explain a simple English construction. Also note that both senses of the definition given in the post I referenced are for "cynical," not "cynic."
– Many Tongues
Apr 7 at 21:42
@ManyTongues Yes, I was focusing on the different usages of "cynic" and "cynical" based on the original title of the post ("who is a cynic"). The word "cynical" has undergone recent shifts in usage that I don't think apply as broadly to "cynic." I'm not sure what you're saying regarding homicide / homicidal, I don't think that's an analogous comparison.
– RaceYouAnytime
Apr 8 at 10:02
I was referring to the word constructions, namely the root word, "homicide," and the derivative adjectival form, "homicidal." Normally, when English derives an adjective from a noun, the words have related meanings, not conflicting meanings. I thought that was clear,sorry. I wasn't comparing the meanings of the two root words "homicide" and "cynic" or their adjectival derivatives, only their constructions.
– Many Tongues
Apr 10 at 1:46
I do agree that it does really appear that the word "cynical" has gone through a shift in meaning, possibly recently. I don't recall, for instance, while growing up, that people used it in this new sense, which (to me, at least) confuses AND conflates meaning. It always meant the first sense, having the belief of a cynic. Thank you for this exchange.
– Many Tongues
Apr 10 at 1:56
add a comment |
The definition you linked to includes two definitions of cynical, apparently from Collins English Dictionary
And it is true that people are often described as cynical when they are "showing contempt for accepted standards of honesty or morality by one's actions," as in the case of the politician you described.
However, usually, when one is referred to as a cynic (noun) in contemporary English, it means that they qualify for this definition, per the OED:
A person disposed to rail or find fault; now usually: One who shows a disposition to disbelieve in the sincerity or goodness of human motives and actions, and is wont to express this by sneers and sarcasms; a sneering fault-finder.
Based on usage, one might refer to someone like the politician you described with the adjective "cynical," but would be less likely to call them the noun "cynic." When the noun "cynic" is invoked, it usually applies to someone like yourself in this situation, who "disbelieve[s] in the sincerity or goodness of human motives and actions," as opposed to someone who "shows contempt for... standards of... morality."
If you want to give yourself some credit for holding these views about a particular politician and not people in general, you might not refer to yourself as a cynic but rather a skeptic.
answered Apr 6 at 23:11
RaceYouAnytimeRaceYouAnytime
19k244103
The definition you linked to includes two definitions of cynical, apparently from Collins English Dictionary
And it is true that people are often described as cynical when they are "showing contempt for accepted standards of honesty or morality by one's actions," as in the case of the politician you described.
However, usually, when one is referred to as a cynic (noun) in contemporary English, it means that they qualify for this definition, per the OED:
A person disposed to rail or find fault; now usually: One who shows a disposition to disbelieve in the sincerity or goodness of human motives and actions, and is wont to express this by sneers and sarcasms; a sneering fault-finder.
Based on usage, one might refer to someone like the politician you described with the adjective "cynical," but would be less likely to call them the noun "cynic." When the noun "cynic" is invoked, it usually applies to someone like yourself in this situation, who "disbelieve[s] in the sincerity or goodness of human motives and actions," as opposed to someone who "shows contempt for... standards of... morality."
If you want to give yourself some credit for holding these views about a particular politician and not people in general, you might not refer to yourself as a cynic but rather a skeptic.
answered Apr 6 at 23:11
RaceYouAnytimeRaceYouAnytime
19k244103
answered Apr 6 at 23:11
RaceYouAnytimeRaceYouAnytime
19k244103
answered Apr 6 at 23:11
RaceYouAnytimeRaceYouAnytime
19k244103
answered Apr 6 at 23:11
RaceYouAnytimeRaceYouAnytime
19k244103
19k244103
If person A commits homicide against person B, I think it's pretty clear that we would say that A had been homicidal. I am not aware that anyone would normally call person B homicidal.
– Many Tongues
Apr 7 at 21:15
Your analysis is interesting, but I think extraordinarily, complex to explain a simple English construction. Also note that both senses of the definition given in the post I referenced are for "cynical," not "cynic."
– Many Tongues
Apr 7 at 21:42
@ManyTongues Yes, I was focusing on the different usages of "cynic" and "cynical" based on the original title of the post ("who is a cynic"). The word "cynical" has undergone recent shifts in usage that I don't think apply as broadly to "cynic." I'm not sure what you're saying regarding homicide / homicidal, I don't think that's an analogous comparison.
– RaceYouAnytime
Apr 8 at 10:02
I was referring to the word constructions, namely the root word, "homicide," and the derivative adjectival form, "homicidal." Normally, when English derives an adjective from a noun, the words have related meanings, not conflicting meanings. I thought that was clear,sorry. I wasn't comparing the meanings of the two root words "homicide" and "cynic" or their adjectival derivatives, only their constructions.
– Many Tongues
Apr 10 at 1:46
I do agree that it does really appear that the word "cynical" has gone through a shift in meaning, possibly recently. I don't recall, for instance, while growing up, that people used it in this new sense, which (to me, at least) confuses AND conflates meaning. It always meant the first sense, having the belief of a cynic. Thank you for this exchange.
– Many Tongues
Apr 10 at 1:56
add a comment |
If person A commits homicide against person B, I think it's pretty clear that we would say that A had been homicidal. I am not aware that anyone would normally call person B homicidal.
– Many Tongues
Apr 7 at 21:15
Your analysis is interesting, but I think extraordinarily, complex to explain a simple English construction. Also note that both senses of the definition given in the post I referenced are for "cynical," not "cynic."
– Many Tongues
Apr 7 at 21:42
@ManyTongues Yes, I was focusing on the different usages of "cynic" and "cynical" based on the original title of the post ("who is a cynic"). The word "cynical" has undergone recent shifts in usage that I don't think apply as broadly to "cynic." I'm not sure what you're saying regarding homicide / homicidal, I don't think that's an analogous comparison.
– RaceYouAnytime
Apr 8 at 10:02
I was referring to the word constructions, namely the root word, "homicide," and the derivative adjectival form, "homicidal." Normally, when English derives an adjective from a noun, the words have related meanings, not conflicting meanings. I thought that was clear,sorry. I wasn't comparing the meanings of the two root words "homicide" and "cynic" or their adjectival derivatives, only their constructions.
– Many Tongues
Apr 10 at 1:46
I do agree that it does really appear that the word "cynical" has gone through a shift in meaning, possibly recently. I don't recall, for instance, while growing up, that people used it in this new sense, which (to me, at least) confuses AND conflates meaning. It always meant the first sense, having the belief of a cynic. Thank you for this exchange.
– Many Tongues
Apr 10 at 1:56
If person A commits homicide against person B, I think it's pretty clear that we would say that A had been homicidal. I am not aware that anyone would normally call person B homicidal.
– Many Tongues
Apr 7 at 21:15
If person A commits homicide against person B, I think it's pretty clear that we would say that A had been homicidal. I am not aware that anyone would normally call person B homicidal.
– Many Tongues
Apr 7 at 21:15
Your analysis is interesting, but I think extraordinarily, complex to explain a simple English construction. Also note that both senses of the definition given in the post I referenced are for "cynical," not "cynic."
– Many Tongues
Apr 7 at 21:42
Your analysis is interesting, but I think extraordinarily, complex to explain a simple English construction. Also note that both senses of the definition given in the post I referenced are for "cynical," not "cynic."
– Many Tongues
Apr 7 at 21:42
@ManyTongues Yes, I was focusing on the different usages of "cynic" and "cynical" based on the original title of the post ("who is a cynic"). The word "cynical" has undergone recent shifts in usage that I don't think apply as broadly to "cynic." I'm not sure what you're saying regarding homicide / homicidal, I don't think that's an analogous comparison.
– RaceYouAnytime
Apr 8 at 10:02
@ManyTongues Yes, I was focusing on the different usages of "cynic" and "cynical" based on the original title of the post ("who is a cynic"). The word "cynical" has undergone recent shifts in usage that I don't think apply as broadly to "cynic." I'm not sure what you're saying regarding homicide / homicidal, I don't think that's an analogous comparison.
– RaceYouAnytime
Apr 8 at 10:02
I was referring to the word constructions, namely the root word, "homicide," and the derivative adjectival form, "homicidal." Normally, when English derives an adjective from a noun, the words have related meanings, not conflicting meanings. I thought that was clear,sorry. I wasn't comparing the meanings of the two root words "homicide" and "cynic" or their adjectival derivatives, only their constructions.
– Many Tongues
Apr 10 at 1:46
I was referring to the word constructions, namely the root word, "homicide," and the derivative adjectival form, "homicidal." Normally, when English derives an adjective from a noun, the words have related meanings, not conflicting meanings. I thought that was clear,sorry. I wasn't comparing the meanings of the two root words "homicide" and "cynic" or their adjectival derivatives, only their constructions.
– Many Tongues
Apr 10 at 1:46
I do agree that it does really appear that the word "cynical" has gone through a shift in meaning, possibly recently. I don't recall, for instance, while growing up, that people used it in this new sense, which (to me, at least) confuses AND conflates meaning. It always meant the first sense, having the belief of a cynic. Thank you for this exchange.
– Many Tongues
Apr 10 at 1:56
I do agree that it does really appear that the word "cynical" has gone through a shift in meaning, possibly recently. I don't recall, for instance, while growing up, that people used it in this new sense, which (to me, at least) confuses AND conflates meaning. It always meant the first sense, having the belief of a cynic. Thank you for this exchange.
– Many Tongues
Apr 10 at 1:56
add a comment |
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Welcome to ELU. Have you consulted a dictionary?
– AleksandrH
Apr 6 at 20:56
See my latest edit. I forgot to include the link. Sorry for the confusion.
– Many Tongues
Apr 6 at 21:06
1
It depends on where you are standing.
– Hot Licks
Apr 6 at 21:19
(Consider that you might both be cynics.)
– Hot Licks
Apr 6 at 21:27
1
Please clarify what you mean, Hot Licks. I am not clear on how your comment applies. Thanks.
– Many Tongues
Apr 6 at 21:44