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
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Recent Examples of cynical
There’s beauty in that depth, but also a risk of becoming paranoid, withdrawn, or overly cynical.
—
Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 26 Oct. 2025
Some complain that the boisterous, anthemic version on the album belies the cynical point of view of a Vietnam veteran.
—Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 24 Oct. 2025
His inclusion could come across as a cynical ploy, a way of measuring social progress in a backward town.
—Grace Byron, New Yorker, 22 Oct. 2025
As my colleague Charlie Warzel wrote in March, on X, the White House is now a troll account, borrowing its snide visual language and tone from some of the internet’s most cynical spaces and deploying this style to mock and dehumanize people.
—Kaitlyn Tiffany, The Atlantic, 9 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cynical
Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 26 Oct. 2025
Some complain that the boisterous, anthemic version on the album belies the cynical point of view of a Vietnam veteran.
—Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 24 Oct. 2025
His inclusion could come across as a cynical ploy, a way of measuring social progress in a backward town.
—Grace Byron, New Yorker, 22 Oct. 2025
As my colleague Charlie Warzel wrote in March, on X, the White House is now a troll account, borrowing its snide visual language and tone from some of the internet’s most cynical spaces and deploying this style to mock and dehumanize people.
—Kaitlyn Tiffany, The Atlantic, 9 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cynical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cynical
Adjective
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Netflix is an ironic home for a swoony love letter to cinema; the streamer remains fairly uninterested in the theatrical experience.—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
4 Nov. 2025
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The reaction wasn’t completely unexpected, though the timing was ironic, said the 34-year-old artist.—
Kaleigh Werner,
Footwear News,
31 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The kicking game was so bad that Freeman sounded like Brian Kelly at his sarcastic best when asked about Noah Burnette, Erik Schmidt and Marcello Diomede combining to miss two extra points and one field goal.—
Pete Sampson,
New York Times,
2 Nov. 2025
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Reactions to the freestyle depended on whether or not you were tuned into its sarcastic frequency.—
Jeff Ihaza,
Rolling Stone,
30 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Director Yorgos Lanthimos says audiences have been divided on whether the film presents an optimistic or pessimistic view of the future.—
Lauren Huff,
Entertainment Weekly,
31 Oct. 2025
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Senators remain pessimistic about the chances of reaching a bipartisan deal to reopen the government despite the effects of the shutdown becoming more painful for the American people.—
Spencer Kimball,
CNBC,
29 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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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
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If the bat is negative, individuals will not need post-exposure treatment.—
Caroline Neal,
Louisville Courier Journal,
24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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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
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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
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Frontrunner Zohran Mamdani must convince Black voters skeptical of ambitious campaign promises, including free buses, free universal childcare and a rent freeze on 1 million apartments.—
Eduardo Cuevas,
USA Today,
3 Nov. 2025
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But Feinberg is also intensely skeptical of some of the startups’ promises.—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
3 Nov. 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 8 Nov. 2025.
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