cynical

adjective

cyn·i·cal ˈsi-ni-kəl How to pronounce cynical (audio)

: having or showing the attitude or temper of a cynic: such as

: contemptuously distrustful of human nature and motives

… those cynical men who say that democracy cannot be honest and efficient.

Franklin D. Roosevelt

: based on or reflecting a belief that human conduct is motivated primarily by self-interest

a cynical ploy to win votes

: captious, peevish

cynically

ˈsi-ni-k(ə-)lē How to pronounce cynical (audio)

adverb

Did you know?

Out of the Kennel: The History of Cynical

Cynical has a certain amount of dog in its ancestry, although not in the way that you might think. In ancient Greece, the followers of the philosopher Antisthenes were referred to as kynikos (“doglike”); when cynical was first used in English, it often was in reference to this group of philosophers.

A number of other English words have a canine history as well: harass can be traced to a word in Middle French (harer) meaning “to set a dog on;” sarcasm comes from a Greek word (sarkazein) which means “to tear flesh like dogs;” and even the word for a completely different animal, the canary, comes from a word for dog (the explanation for this seeming incongruity is that the bird comes from the Canary Islands, the name of which comes from the Latin for “dog islands,” Canariae insulae).

Example Sentences

… if more and more people out there are willing to kill themselves in order to kill us, we've got to give the poor and cynical of the world something positive to believe in.

Robert Reich, Prospect, February 2003 When "Roots" premiered on the ABC network in 1977, my generation of black academics and activists was cynical and outraged. We felt the horrors of slavery were rendered flat and lifeless by the miniseries …

Houston A. Baker, Jr., Vibe, February 2002 It was fear of the Other, the poor, the dying—or to evoke a word with biblical authority—the pestilential. And so I could no longer be cynical about her motives.

Bharati Mukherjee, Time, 14 June 1999 … was quiet spoken, but he had a cynical arch to his brows, as though he were repressing an urge to sneer.

Joseph Wambaugh, The Blooding, 1989 Cynical people say there is no such thing as true love. People are so cynical nowadays. She's become more cynical in her old age. Some people regard the governor's visit to the hospital as a cynical attempt to win votes. See More

Recent Examples on the Web Baghdad has prevented the exploitation and export of the Kurds’ petroleum reserves based on a flawed and cynical reading of the Iraqi Constitution.

Bernard-henri Lévy, WSJ, 8 Sep. 2022 Inside a huge hotel ballroom, on a stage in front of a hundred or so cynical, bleary-eyed sports writers, Mack Brown delivered what might have been the most stirring pregame press conference of all time.

Mike Finger, San Antonio Express-News, 6 Sep. 2022 Granted, societal greed has reached epic proportions, but accepting the idea that invitations are issued only to extract presents is too cynical even for Miss Manners.

Jacobina Martin, Washington Post, 26 Aug. 2022 Debate’s appeal is simultaneously idyllic and cynical.

Tess Mcnulty, Harper’s Magazine , 17 Aug. 2022 And yet never before Season 4 did its deployment of violence seem quite so cynical.

Daniel D'addario, Variety, 14 Aug. 2022 Politicians, being generally cynical, are understood to want nothing so much as to be elected.

Benjamin Wallace-wells, The New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2022 TikTok users have become increasingly cynical toward the music industry’s online presence, many of them pointing to certain posts from artists that seemed inauthentic.

Morgan Sung, NBC News, 24 May 2022 The premise may sound corny, but there’s an atmosphere of genuine enthusiasm and kindness that will charm even the most cynical of listeners.

Emma Dibdin, BostonGlobe.com, 3 July 2022 See More

cynical

adjective

as in ironic

having or showing a deep distrust of human beings and their motives so cynical that he can't understand why anyone would volunteer to help out at a homeless shelter

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

ironic
sarcastic
pessimistic
misanthropic
negative
ironical
skeptical
sardonic
suspicious
negativistic
fatalistic
distrustful
derisive
mistrustful
negativist
scornful
jaded
mocking
defeatist
unsentimental
hard-bitten
worldly-wise
sophisticated
hard-edged
hardcase
hard-boiled

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

optimistic
naive
uncynical
naïve
positive
cheerful
trustful
idealistic
unsuspicious
unsophisticated
positivistic
trusting
positivist
innocent
romantic
sentimental
ingenuous
impractical
maudlin
sappy
saccharine
mushy
rose-colored

Synonym Chooser

The words misanthropic and pessimistic are common synonyms of cynical. While all three words mean "deeply distrustful," cynical implies having a sneering disbelief in sincerity or integrity.

cynical about politicians' motives

Although the words misanthropic and cynical have much in common, misanthropic suggests a rooted distrust and dislike of human beings and their society.

a solitary and misanthropic artist

In some situations, the words pessimistic and cynical are roughly equivalent. However, pessimistic implies having a gloomy, distrustful view of life.

pessimistic about the future

单词	cynical
释义	cynical adjective cyn·i·cal ˈsi-ni-kəl 1 : having or showing the attitude or temper of a cynic: such as a : contemptuously distrustful of human nature and motives … those cynical men who say that democracy cannot be honest and efficient. Franklin D. Roosevelt b : based on or reflecting a belief that human conduct is motivated primarily by self-interest a cynical ploy to win votes 2 : captious, peevish cynically ˈsi-ni-k(ə-)lē adverb Did you know? Out of the Kennel: The History of Cynical Cynical has a certain amount of dog in its ancestry, although not in the way that you might think. In ancient Greece, the followers of the philosopher Antisthenes were referred to as kynikos (“doglike”); when cynical was first used in English, it often was in reference to this group of philosophers. A number of other English words have a canine history as well: harass can be traced to a word in Middle French (harer) meaning “to set a dog on;” sarcasm comes from a Greek word (sarkazein) which means “to tear flesh like dogs;” and even the word for a completely different animal, the canary, comes from a word for dog (the explanation for this seeming incongruity is that the bird comes from the Canary Islands, the name of which comes from the Latin for “dog islands,” Canariae insulae). Synonyms misanthropic pessimistic See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences … if more and more people out there are willing to kill themselves in order to kill us, we've got to give the poor and cynical of the world something positive to believe in. Robert Reich, Prospect, February 2003 When "Roots" premiered on the ABC network in 1977, my generation of black academics and activists was cynical and outraged. We felt the horrors of slavery were rendered flat and lifeless by the miniseries … Houston A. Baker, Jr., Vibe, February 2002 It was fear of the Other, the poor, the dying—or to evoke a word with biblical authority—the pestilential. And so I could no longer be cynical about her motives. Bharati Mukherjee, Time, 14 June 1999 … was quiet spoken, but he had a cynical arch to his brows, as though he were repressing an urge to sneer. Joseph Wambaugh, The Blooding, 1989 Cynical people say there is no such thing as true love. People are so cynical nowadays. She's become more cynical in her old age. Some people regard the governor's visit to the hospital as a cynical attempt to win votes. See More Recent Examples on the Web Baghdad has prevented the exploitation and export of the Kurds’ petroleum reserves based on a flawed and cynical reading of the Iraqi Constitution. Bernard-henri Lévy, WSJ, 8 Sep. 2022 Inside a huge hotel ballroom, on a stage in front of a hundred or so cynical, bleary-eyed sports writers, Mack Brown delivered what might have been the most stirring pregame press conference of all time. Mike Finger, San Antonio Express-News, 6 Sep. 2022 Granted, societal greed has reached epic proportions, but accepting the idea that invitations are issued only to extract presents is too cynical even for Miss Manners. Jacobina Martin, Washington Post, 26 Aug. 2022 Debate’s appeal is simultaneously idyllic and cynical. Tess Mcnulty, Harper’s Magazine , 17 Aug. 2022 And yet never before Season 4 did its deployment of violence seem quite so cynical. Daniel D'addario, Variety, 14 Aug. 2022 Politicians, being generally cynical, are understood to want nothing so much as to be elected. Benjamin Wallace-wells, The New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2022 TikTok users have become increasingly cynical toward the music industry’s online presence, many of them pointing to certain posts from artists that seemed inauthentic. Morgan Sung, NBC News, 24 May 2022 The premise may sound corny, but there’s an atmosphere of genuine enthusiasm and kindness that will charm even the most cynical of listeners. Emma Dibdin, BostonGlobe.com, 3 July 2022 See More Word History Etymology see cynic First Known Use 1542, in the meaning defined at sense 2 Kids Definition cynical adjective cyn·i·cal ˈsi-nə-kəl : believing that people are selfish and dishonest cynical adjective as in ironic having or showing a deep distrust of human beings and their motives so cynical that he can't understand why anyone would volunteer to help out at a homeless shelter Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance ironic sarcastic pessimistic misanthropic negative ironical skeptical sardonic suspicious negativistic fatalistic distrustful derisive mistrustful negativist scornful jaded mocking defeatist unsentimental hard-bitten worldly-wise sophisticated hard-edged hardcase hard-boiled Antonyms & Near Antonyms optimistic naive uncynical naïve positive cheerful trustful idealistic unsuspicious unsophisticated positivistic trusting positivist innocent romantic sentimental ingenuous impractical maudlin sappy saccharine mushy rose-colored See More Synonym Chooser The words misanthropic and pessimistic are common synonyms of cynical. While all three words mean "deeply distrustful," cynical implies having a sneering disbelief in sincerity or integrity. cynical about politicians' motives Although the words misanthropic and cynical have much in common, misanthropic suggests a rooted distrust and dislike of human beings and their society. a solitary and misanthropic artist In some situations, the words pessimistic and cynical are roughly equivalent. However, pessimistic implies having a gloomy, distrustful view of life. pessimistic about the future
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cynical

adjective

Did you know?

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Kids Definition

adjective

adjective

Synonym Chooser