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.”
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 2005It 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 1996Rather 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 1992The 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 Sketches, 1977
a former misanthrope who now professes a newly discovered love of mankind
Recent Examples on the WebMy dad was a bit of a misanthrope who loved to be alone.—David Allan, CNN, 15 Apr. 2024 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 See all Example Sentences for misanthrope
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
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