cynical
Americanadjective
-
distrusting or disparaging the motives of others; like or characteristic of a cynic.
- Antonyms:
- optimistic
-
showing contempt for accepted standards of honesty or morality by one's actions, especially by actions that exploit the scruples of others.
-
bitterly or sneeringly distrustful, contemptuous, or pessimistic.
- Antonyms:
- optimistic
-
(initial capital letter) cynic.
adjective
-
distrustful or contemptuous of virtue, esp selflessness in others; believing the worst of others, esp that all acts are selfish
-
sarcastic; mocking
-
showing contempt for accepted standards of behaviour, esp of honesty or morality
the politician betrayed his promises in a cynical way
Related Words
Cynical, pessimistic, sarcastic, satirical imply holding a low opinion of humanity. Cynical suggests a disbelief in the sincerity of human motives: cynical about honesty. Pessimistic implies a more or less habitual disposition to look on the dark side of things, and to believe that the worst will happen: pessimistic as to the future. Sarcastic refers to sneering or making cutting jibes: sarcastic about a profession of faith. Satirical suggests expressing scorn or ridicule by saying the opposite of what one means: a satirical attack on his political promises.
Other Word Forms
- anticynical adjective
- anticynically adverb
- cynically adverb
- cynicalness noun
- quasi-cynical adjective
- quasi-cynically adverb
- semicynical adjective
- semicynically adverb
- supercynical adjective
- supercynically adverb
- supercynicalness noun
- uncynical adjective
- uncynically adverb
Etymology
Origin of cynical
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
But this season, attempts to climb in the draft by plummeting in the standings have become so obvious and cynical that league commissioner Adam Silver insists that it’s time for the league to take action.
"Cruz Beckham is very identifiable as the child of two huge stars, and people are really cynical. So I think it's more of a hindrance in 2026, to be honest," she says.
From BBC
At Mrs. Riley’s boardinghouse, Ryui is taken under the wing of Torajiro “Jack” Baba, a cynical photographer with an avant-garde aesthetic.
Many market watchers and tech industry executives dismissed the article as unrealistic and cynical.
From Barron's
The level of indignation, courtesy of the masterly Bellocchio, may be even more than a viewer will be comfortable with; the cynical perspective of so many Milanese jurists is appalling.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
