Definition:

1 : contemptuously distrustful of human nature and motives

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

Example:

"The rap on ... [the] musical Chicago has been that it was a show ahead of its time, with its cynical take on the idea of celebrity, crime, and the regular folks who would do nearly anything for a moment in the spotlight." – Thom Geier, EntertainmentWeekly.com, August 24, 2010