cynicism
noun
cyn·i·cism
ˈsi-nə-ˌsi-zəm 
1
capitalized
: the doctrine of the Cynics (see cynic sense 2)
2
: cynical attitude or quality
Nothing could change her cynicism about politics.
also
: a cynical comment or act
pungent cynicisms
Examples of cynicism in a Sentence
Nothing could change her cynicism about politics.
Recent Examples on the Web
In a world of cynicism, Logano refuses to fall in line.
—
Jeff Gluck, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
Gone is the cynicism that clouded the Biden era.
—Faisal J. Abbas, semafor.com, 16 Oct. 2025
Kiss weathered cynicism and disinterest from the snobby New York music scene in their early months — Frehley worked as a taxi driver to pay the bills — but, crucially, united with manager Bill Aucoin in September 1973, who began plotting the band’s path to stardom with the bandmembers.
—Jem Aswad, Variety, 16 Oct. 2025
There’s a troubling cynicism at work here, in which many alt-travel influencers are following the rightward shift of their young male audiences and creating content to placate them.
—T. M. Brown, New Yorker, 15 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cynicism
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Jeff Gluck, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
Gone is the cynicism that clouded the Biden era.
—Faisal J. Abbas, semafor.com, 16 Oct. 2025
Kiss weathered cynicism and disinterest from the snobby New York music scene in their early months — Frehley worked as a taxi driver to pay the bills — but, crucially, united with manager Bill Aucoin in September 1973, who began plotting the band’s path to stardom with the bandmembers.
—Jem Aswad, Variety, 16 Oct. 2025
There’s a troubling cynicism at work here, in which many alt-travel influencers are following the rightward shift of their young male audiences and creating content to placate them.
—T. M. Brown, New Yorker, 15 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cynicism
Cite this Entry
“Cynicism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cynicism. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
cynicism
noun
cyn·i·cism
ˈsin-ə-ˌsiz-əm
: a cynical attitude or quality
also
: an expression of cynical quality
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