as in misanthrope
a person who distrusts other people and believes that everything is done for selfish reasons
a cynic who believes that nobody does a good deed without expecting something in return
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Recent Examples of cynic
Erudite cynics like Karl Rove have written that gerrymandering has been around as long as there have been politicians and districts and that public officials invariably become inured to their own hypocrisy.
—
The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 10 Aug. 2025
But crypto companies have long maintained that digital currencies are a new, innovative financial product that needs its own set of rules — rules that critics and cynics say the crypto sector would like to shape to its advantage by spending heavily in elections.
—Rafael Nam, NPR, 19 July 2025
Gunn and Safran and all of Warner Bros can rest easy after the cynics’ snarking over the first trailer back in December.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 10 July 2025
The evergreen revolving door of oddballs and cynics populating that Manhattan arraignment court in the wee hours of the night and at the center of it all a workplace family that will forever be... until next time.
—EW.com, 19 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for cynic
The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 10 Aug. 2025
But crypto companies have long maintained that digital currencies are a new, innovative financial product that needs its own set of rules — rules that critics and cynics say the crypto sector would like to shape to its advantage by spending heavily in elections.
—Rafael Nam, NPR, 19 July 2025
Gunn and Safran and all of Warner Bros can rest easy after the cynics’ snarking over the first trailer back in December.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 10 July 2025
The evergreen revolving door of oddballs and cynics populating that Manhattan arraignment court in the wee hours of the night and at the center of it all a workplace family that will forever be... until next time.
—EW.com, 19 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for cynic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cynic
Noun
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Gregg is identified in the press notes as a misanthrope, but the jury’s still out on that predetermined character trait.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
13 Oct. 2025
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Rosales is Trevor, Penny’s other BFF, a misanthrope who’d rather fade into the background.—
Denise Petski,
Deadline,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
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One of Guiducci’s first moves was overhauling the magazine’s Hollywood staff, such as by jettisoning some of the publication’s movie critics.—
Max Tani,
semafor.com,
3 Nov. 2025
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Mexico City Reuters — Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum promised on Sunday there would be justice for the brazen murder of a local mayor, Carlos Manzo, an outspoken critic of organized crime who had called on the government to do more to protect him and others.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
2 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Worries are particularly high about companies in the artificial-intelligence industry, where pessimists see echoes of the 2000 dot-com bubble that imploded.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
13 Oct. 2025
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For the pessimists, Coreweave is Lucent or Nortel.—
Jim Cramer,
CNBC,
28 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Being a naysayer in this market doesn’t pay the bills.—
Allison Morrow,
CNN Money,
30 Oct. 2025
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Despite positives, Apple naysayers continue to doubt the stock due to management’s underwhelming artificial intelligence rollout.—
Morgan Chittum,
CNBC,
29 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Florida Republican Representative Anna Paulina Luna has announced her support for far-right German climate skeptic Naomi Seibt, who is seeking asylum in the United States.—
Billal Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Oct. 2025
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Garlic lovers are excited, and skeptics are already reaching for their mints.—
Nina Moskowitz,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
31 Oct. 2025
Video
The History of 'Cynic'
How an ancient philosophical movement devoted to the pursuit of virtue came to describe eye-rolling criticism.
Cite this Entry
“Cynic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cynic. Accessed 5 Nov. 2025.
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