cynical

adjective

cyn·​i·​cal ˈsi-ni-kəl 

1

: having or showing the attitude or temper of a cynic: such as

a

: contemptuously distrustful of human nature and motives

… those cynical men who say that democracy cannot be honest and efficient.

—Franklin D. Roosevelt

The world has grown cynical about the integrity of major international sports, and not without reason.

—Andy Spalding

Most journalists are cynical about the nature of political power and politicians.

—Alexander Heffner

b

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

We live in a cruel, cynical world.

Some people regard the governor's visit as a cynical ploy to win votes.

2

: captious, peevish

cynically

ˈsi-ni-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

The character talks cynically about love.

Did you know?

Out of the Kennel: The History of Cynical

Cynical has a certain amount of dog in its ancestry, although not in the way that you might think. In ancient Greece, the followers of the philosopher Antisthenes were referred to as kynikos (“doglike”); when cynical was first used in English, it often was in reference to this group of philosophers.

A number of other English words have a canine history as well: harass can be traced to a word in Middle French (harer) meaning “to set a dog on;” sarcasm comes from a Greek word (sarkazein) which means “to tear flesh like dogs;” and even the word for a completely different animal, the canary, comes from a word for dog (the explanation for this seeming incongruity is that the bird comes from the Canary Islands, the name of which comes from the Latin for “dog islands,” Canariae insulae).

Synonyms of cynical

• ironic
• sarcastic
• pessimistic
• negative
• misanthropic
• skeptical

Choose the Right Synonym for cynical

cynical, misanthropic, pessimistic mean deeply distrustful.

cynical implies having a sneering disbelief in sincerity or integrity.

cynical about politicians' motives

misanthropic suggests a rooted distrust and dislike of human beings and their society.

a solitary and misanthropic artist

pessimistic implies having a gloomy, distrustful view of life.

pessimistic about the future

Examples of cynical in a Sentence

… if more and more people out there are willing to kill themselves in order to kill us, we've got to give the poor and cynical of the world something positive to believe in. —Robert Reich, Prospect, February 2003

When "Roots" premiered on the ABC network in 1977, my generation of black academics and activists was cynical and outraged. We felt the horrors of slavery were rendered flat and lifeless by the miniseries … —Houston A. Baker, Jr., Vibe, February 2002

It was fear of the Other, the poor, the dying—or to evoke a word with biblical authority—the pestilential. And so I could no longer be cynical about her motives. —Bharati Mukherjee, Time, 14 June 1999

… was quiet spoken, but he had a cynical arch to his brows, as though he were repressing an urge to sneer. —Joseph Wambaugh, The Blooding, 1989

Cynical people say there is no such thing as true love.

People are so cynical nowadays.

She's become more cynical in her old age.

Some people regard the governor's visit to the hospital as a cynical attempt to win votes.

Recent Examples on the Web

Just as soon as cynical Cyrus vacates the passenger seat, Lee finds someone more sympathetic to ride shotgun. —Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 29 Oct. 2025

Their sister Cynthia has a somewhat more cynical attitude, and the priceless body language that goes with it. —Sheri Linden, HollywoodReporter, 27 Oct. 2025

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

Word History

Etymology

see cynic

First Known Use

1574, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for cynical

• binnacle
• clinical
• pinnacle
• nonclinical
• preclinical
• rabbinical
• subclinical

Video

The History of 'Cynic'

How an ancient philosophical movement devoted to the pursuit of virtue came to describe eye-rolling criticism.

Kids Definition

cynical

adjective

cyn·​i·​cal ˈsin-i-kəl 

: having the attitude of a cynic : not trusting human nature

cynically

-k(ə-)lē 

adverb