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
In the years after 1991, Russians were trained cynics, having lived through Soviet decline and collapse; forcing belief would be a difficult endeavor, with an unclear upside.
—
Foreign Affairs, 21 Oct. 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
Foreign Affairs, 21 Oct. 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 Grinch Based on the iconic Dr. Seuss’s story, The Grinch follows the grouchy, green misanthrope who lives just outside Whoville and despises the town’s joyful holiday celebrations.—
Lauryn Higgins,
Parents,
22 Dec. 2025
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Gregg is identified in the press notes as a misanthrope, but the jury’s still out on that predetermined character trait.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
13 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Washington Post food critic Elazar Sontag entertains your restaurant questions, rants and raves.—
Elazar Sontag,
Washington Post,
14 Jan. 2026
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Flynn, a Wu critic who nominated Worrell, was assigned to chair city services.—
Gayla Cawley,
Boston Herald,
13 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The pessimist would say the school can't win.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
14 Jan. 2026
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But Gioia is hardly a pessimist, focusing equally on the long view and the cyclical nature of cultural innovation and decline.—
Andrew Gilbert,
Mercury News,
5 Dec. 2025
Noun
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Don’t let naysayers pressure you into lowering your standards!—
Tarot.com,
The Orlando Sentinel,
27 Jan. 2026
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His naysayers would say McDermott was 8-8 in his eight playoff appearances.—
Antwan Staley,
New York Daily News,
21 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The shares have since come back to earth as investors and Wall Street skeptics grew impatient about the pace of his turnaround.—
Stephanie Link,
CNBC,
27 Jan. 2026
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Today, in an email interview with Vanity Fair, Ye attempted to address these skeptics by reminding them his music is still wildly popular.—
Hershal Pandya,
Vulture,
27 Jan. 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 1 Feb. 2026.
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