'anti-cynical' is a compound formed from the Greek prefix 'anti-' (from Greek 'anti', meaning 'against') and 'cynical' (from Greek 'kynikos').

'anti-' comes from Greek 'anti' meaning 'against'; 'cynical' derives from Greek 'kynikos' (of the Cynics) via Latin and French into Middle English as 'cynical', and the compound 'anti-cynical' is formed in modern English by joining the prefix and adjective.

Originally 'cynical' referred to the ancient Greek Cynic school (literally 'dog-like'), but it shifted to mean 'distrusting human sincerity or integrity'; consequently 'anti-cynical' evolved to mean 'against cynicism' or 'not cynical' in contemporary usage.