misanthrope

noun

mis·​an·​thrope ˈmi-sᵊn-ˌthrōp How to pronounce misanthrope (audio)
: a person who hates or distrusts humankind

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The essence of misanthrope might be understood in modern parlance as “haters gonna hate.” Adopted in the early 17th century from Greek misanthrōpos, “hating humankind,” (from misein, “to hate,” and anthrōpos, “human being”) its use was encouraged by French playwright Molière’s 1666 satiric comedy Le Misanthrope, which depicts a bitter critic of society who chooses exile over contact with other people. Misanthrope has a close relation in misanthropy, “a hatred or distrust of humankind,” which in turn has an opposite that, happily, is more common than either: philanthropy most often refers to the practice of giving time and money to help others; its Greek root means “loving humankind.” Philanthropes also exist, though they’re usually referred to as philanthropists.

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Misanthropes and Other Haters

Misanthrope comes from the Greek misanthrōpos “hating humankind” and was very likely popularized by the French playwright Moliere's Le Misanthrope, which depicts a bitter critic of society who chooses exile over contact with other people. In English, misanthrope (or its anglicized equivalent, misanthropist) has been applied to many a perceived antisocial crank, from satirist Jonathan Swift to philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche to Charles Dicken’s character Ebenezer Scrooge. It is one of several English words beginning with mis- (from Greek misein "to hate") naming persons who despise something or someone. The most familiar example nowadays is misogynist, used of a person who hates women. Two lesser-known variations on the theme are misandrist “one who hates men” and misopedist “a person who hates children.”

Examples of misanthrope in a Sentence

Many members of the contemporary movie audience, only marginally socialized, would have made a misanthrope of Gandhi; they undermine every argument for intelligent design in the universe. James Morris, Wilson Quarterly, Autumn 2005
It is perhaps not the healthiest tendency for a man who is already if not a hermit at least a part-time misanthrope. Edmund White, Vanity Fair, September 1996
Rather she is the genuine article, a misanthrope so pure she can't understand "why solitary confinement is considered punishment." Lewis Burke Frumkes, New York Times Book Review, 10 May 1992
The young people thought him a gloomy misanthrope, because he never joined in their sports—the old men thought still more hardly of him, because he followed no trade,  … Washington Irving, Salmagundi, November 24, 1807, in History, Tales, and Sketches1977
a former misanthrope who now professes a newly discovered love of mankind
Recent Examples on the Web Relationship management is a hugely important part of the game—let your guard down, and your team will become a group of angry, spiteful misanthropes who refuse to get along. Aaron Zimmerman, Ars Technica, 8 May 2023 Japanese novelist Kazuo Ishiguro once told The Paris Review that idealistic people become misanthropes when they’re let down two or three times. Tyler R. Tynes, Los Angeles Times, 7 Jan. 2024 Countless other stories have modeled characters on Dickens’ iconic misanthrope, albeit without the Victorian sleeping cap. Stephen Humphries, The Christian Science Monitor, 28 Nov. 2023 The casual viewer of White’s work might mistake him for a misanthrope. Chris Vognar, Los Angeles Times, 12 Aug. 2023 Its narrator, Sally Milz, is a misanthrope who has given up on the idea of romantic partnership. Washington Post Editors and Reviewers, Washington Post, 26 May 2023 To the side was a love triangle between a ditzy team publicist Keeley (Juno Temple) and two players, Jamie Tart (Phil Dunster), a Ken Doll, and Roy Kent (Brett Goldstein), a misanthrope for the modern age. Stephen Rodrick, Variety, 31 May 2023 The decision to end the beloved sitcom about a group of New York misanthropes by putting them in jail for being bad Samaritans is now more than 20 years old, but age hasn't helped it. Kelly Lawler, USA TODAY, 25 May 2023 In other words, being a misanthrope is costly. Arthur C. Brooks, The Atlantic, 20 Jan. 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'misanthrope.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Greek misanthrōpos hating humankind, from misein to hate + anthrōpos human being

First Known Use

1683, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of misanthrope was in 1683

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Cite this Entry

“Misanthrope.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/misanthrope. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

misanthrope

noun
mis·​an·​thrope ˈmis-ᵊn-ˌthrōp How to pronounce misanthrope (audio)
: a person who dislikes and distrusts other people

Medical Definition

misanthrope

noun
mis·​an·​thrope ˈmis-ᵊn-ˌthrōp How to pronounce misanthrope (audio)
: a person who hates or distrusts humankind

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