as in ironical
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of cynical
The director plays up the humor a lot more than Westlake’s callously cynical prose, for better or worse.
—
David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 30 Sep. 2025
When the fortune teller’s predictions start to materialize, once cynical Gemma is ready to take a leap of faith.
—Ryan Schwartz, TVLine, 30 Sep. 2025
While some provide a more immersive experience than the original, others clearly lack any substantial improvements and are mostly content to be cynical cash grabs.
—George Yang, Rolling Stone, 30 Sep. 2025
The stakes are relatively low, and the childhood wonder may not work for more cynical adult viewers, but Skeleton Crew is a solid example of Star Wars' unlimited potential to tell all kinds of stories without having to relate everything back to the Skywalker Saga.
—Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cynical
David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 30 Sep. 2025
When the fortune teller’s predictions start to materialize, once cynical Gemma is ready to take a leap of faith.
—Ryan Schwartz, TVLine, 30 Sep. 2025
While some provide a more immersive experience than the original, others clearly lack any substantial improvements and are mostly content to be cynical cash grabs.
—George Yang, Rolling Stone, 30 Sep. 2025
The stakes are relatively low, and the childhood wonder may not work for more cynical adult viewers, but Skeleton Crew is a solid example of Star Wars' unlimited potential to tell all kinds of stories without having to relate everything back to the Skywalker Saga.
—Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cynical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cynical
Adjective
-
Judge Mark Pittman, in a sharply ironic four-page order on Thursday, encouraged the companies to relocate their headquarters to Fort Worth, given their preference for the antitrust lawsuit to be heard there.—
Dan Mangan,Josephine Rozzelle,
CNBC,
19 Oct. 2025
-
There’s also an ironic, social-media component to the trend.—
Dave Smith,
Fortune,
17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
As a model named Carl, stuck in a relationship corrupted by microcelebrity and Instagram view counts, Dickinson ticks with exasperation and sarcastic logic, his jaw clenched, his eyes wide and staring.—
Carrie Battan,
Vulture,
6 Oct. 2025
-
Following the mother-daughter duo of Lorelai Gilmore, played by Lauren Graham, and Rory, played by Alexis Bledel, Gilmore Girls was perfectly made for millennials, packed with wistful romances, frustrating dramatic turns and just enough sarcastic jokes.—
Stephanie Sengwe,
PEOPLE,
5 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The pessimistic version, though?—
Zach Pressnell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 Oct. 2025
-
So why doesn’t Logano just conform to the more pessimistic outlook instead of trying to infuse others with brightness?—
Jeff Gluck,
New York Times,
17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The negative response to Beijing’s tactics also prompted the G7 to vow a united front against the export controls, Yardeni pointed out.—
Dave Smith,
Fortune,
25 Oct. 2025
-
If the bat is negative, individuals will not need post-exposure treatment.—
Caroline Neal,
Louisville Courier Journal,
24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Depp will play the titular role of Ebenezer Scrooge, a misanthropic and miserly businessman in 19th century London who is visited by the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future in an effort to save himself from an afterlife of torment.—
Adam B. Vary,
Variety,
23 Oct. 2025
-
With the brutal murderer targeting his police colleagues, Thomas makes a desperate gamble, turning to a once well-regarded but now out of favour, misanthropic ex-detective for help.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
29 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Without the guardrails and protections provided by traditional banks, who are beholden to regulators and the federal government, disaster can ensue, according to Milgram, who has long been skeptical of the private credit market.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
20 Oct. 2025
-
Jeremy Davies also returns as their father, Terrence, at first skeptical as all parents are in these things but then finding his own emotional hook to give dad some real human emotion as the mystery deepens regarding his wife’s death.—
Pete Hammond,
Deadline,
17 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
“Cynical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cynical. Accessed 26 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share