as in misanthrope
a person who distrusts other people and believes that everything is done for selfish reasons
a cynic who believes that nobody does a good deed without expecting something in return
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of cynic
The belief by cynics is that Netflix wants to be a streaming service.
—
Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 26 Dec. 2025
On the other hand, skeptics and cynics tend to be insistent right now that the clean-up activity is not going to last very long.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
Travis Kelce knows what the cynics might think of his relationship with Taylor Swift — two of the most famous people in America just happen to match up perfectly?
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 12 Aug. 2025
Erudite cynics like Karl Rove have written that gerrymandering has been around as long as there have been politicians and districts and that public officials invariably become inured to their own hypocrisy.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 10 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cynic
Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 26 Dec. 2025
On the other hand, skeptics and cynics tend to be insistent right now that the clean-up activity is not going to last very long.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
Travis Kelce knows what the cynics might think of his relationship with Taylor Swift — two of the most famous people in America just happen to match up perfectly?
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 12 Aug. 2025
Erudite cynics like Karl Rove have written that gerrymandering has been around as long as there have been politicians and districts and that public officials invariably become inured to their own hypocrisy.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 10 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cynic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cynic
Noun
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The story follows a rag-tag group of misanthropes who attempt to rob jewels from the Vatican.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
10 Mar. 2026
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Clavicular is the poster child—though by no means the most extreme representative—of the looksmaxxing movement, the latest permutation of an ideology developed by too online misogynist misanthropes in the twenty-tens.—
Becca Rothfeld,
New Yorker,
7 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Broidy’s lawyers also alleged that Chalker had orchestrated the hacking of the Emirati Ambassador to Washington and had used spy tactics against critics who opposed Qatar’s role as host of the World Cup in 2022.—
David D. Kirkpatrick,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
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But some conservative critics bristled at the annual outings, especially since Francis would also wash the feet of Muslims and people of other faiths.—
Nicole Winfield,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The pessimists say the dream is over: The UAE was always a mirage, and now the desert wind has arrived.—
Mohammed Sergie,
semafor.com,
17 Mar. 2026
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Steel yourself; the pessimists will have gravitas.—
Jim Cramer,
CNBC,
8 Mar. 2026
Noun
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If unhelpful naysayers shove their preferences onto you, just brush them off.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
30 Mar. 2026
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Each of those films also features a plucky, diminutive hero who succeeds in the face of naysayers—an easy figure for any kid watching to root for.—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
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And an even prouder Artificial Intelligence (AI) skeptic.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
26 Mar. 2026
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In an interview, Hoopes, who described himself as a wealth tax skeptic, agreed with Jaros that the tax would encourage billionaires to leave.—
Ben Paviour,
Sacbee.com,
25 Mar. 2026
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
“Cynic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cynic. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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