misanthropy: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal, literary, academic
Quick answer
What does “misanthropy” mean?
A deep dislike, distrust, or hatred of humankind.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A deep dislike, distrust, or hatred of humankind.
A general contempt for human nature and society, often leading to social withdrawal or cynical pessimism about human motives and behaviour.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Spelling is identical.
Connotations
Equally strong and formal in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency and high-register in both dialects.
Grammar
How to Use “misanthropy” in a Sentence
misanthropy towards [humankind/society]misanthropy born of [disillusionment/experience]misanthropy that leads to [withdrawal/isolation]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “misanthropy” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He began to misanthropise after years of political betrayal.
- The character's journey misanthropises as the plot darkens.
American English
- He started to misanthropize after the scandal.
- The novel shows how idealism can misanthropize into cynicism.
adverb
British English
- He viewed the crowd misanthropically, seeing only greed and folly.
- She spoke misanthropically about the chances for peace.
American English
- He shrugged misanthropically, expecting the worst outcome.
- The columnist writes misanthropically about city life.
adjective
British English
- His misanthropic views made him a difficult colleague.
- She wrote a misanthropic critique of modern society.
American English
- The film has a deeply misanthropic tone.
- His misanthropic rants were famous online.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might appear in critiques of corporate culture or leadership styles.
Academic
Common in philosophy, literature, psychology, and sociology texts discussing human nature.
Everyday
Very rare. Would be considered an unusually formal or literary word in casual conversation.
Technical
Used in clinical psychology/psychiatry to describe a trait, though not a formal diagnosis.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “misanthropy”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “misanthropy”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “misanthropy”
- Confusing with 'misogyny' (hatred of women) or 'misandry' (hatred of men).
- Using it to describe a simple bad mood or introversion.
- Misspelling as 'misanthropie' or 'misanthrophy'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. An introvert may simply prefer solitude or small groups. A misanthrope actively dislikes or distrusts people as a principle.
It is not a formal mental health diagnosis (like depression or anxiety), but it can be a significant personality trait discussed in psychology.
Pessimism is a general expectation that things will turn out badly. Misanthropy is a specific form of pessimism directed at human nature and society.
In common usage, yes, it carries a negative connotation of excessive, unhealthy disdain. However, some philosophical traditions view a degree of scepticism about human motives as realistic.
A deep dislike, distrust, or hatred of humankind.
Misanthropy is usually formal, literary, academic in register.
Misanthropy: in British English it is pronounced /mɪˈsanθrəpi/, and in American English it is pronounced /mɪˈsænθrəpi/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A hermit's misanthropy”
- “To retreat into misanthropy”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: MIS (wrong/bad) + ANTHROP (human) + Y (state/condition) = a bad feeling towards humans.
Conceptual Metaphor
HUMANITY IS A DISEASE / SOCIETY IS A PRISON
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the closest antonym of 'misanthropy'?