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
Similarly to her dad, Abby tries to bring order to her crew of oddballs and cynics, most notably former night court prosecutor Dan Fielding (John Larroquette), a character from the original series.
—
Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 9 May 2025
Abdellatif Kechiche’s 2013 graphic lesbian love story Blue Is the Warmest Color confounded cynics by winning over a jury headed by, of all people, Steven Spielberg.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 14 May 2025
Ignore the cynics and their interest in intimidating ironic innovation!
—Chris Jones, New York Daily News, 8 Apr. 2025
But cynics will argue that Visa, like most payments platforms, profits from higher spend, not restrained consumption.
—Ilona Limonta-Volkova, Forbes.com, 7 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for cynic
Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 9 May 2025
Abdellatif Kechiche’s 2013 graphic lesbian love story Blue Is the Warmest Color confounded cynics by winning over a jury headed by, of all people, Steven Spielberg.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 14 May 2025
Ignore the cynics and their interest in intimidating ironic innovation!
—Chris Jones, New York Daily News, 8 Apr. 2025
But cynics will argue that Visa, like most payments platforms, profits from higher spend, not restrained consumption.
—Ilona Limonta-Volkova, Forbes.com, 7 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for cynic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cynic
Noun
-
Edward is a misanthrope and a scold (The Imitation Game).—
Graham Hillard,
Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government,
21 Feb. 2025
-
In the face of international law enforcement pressure, dozens of prosecutions, and worldwide disrepute, the network of young sadists, misanthropes, child predators, and extortionists known as Com and 764 has not shrunk away into obscurity.—
Ali Winston,
WIRED,
12 Mar. 2025
Noun
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On every episode of this podcast, host Lena Crown speaks with writers, artists, critics, and scholars across generations who have awakened something for one another.—
Awakeners
July 1,
Literary Hub,
1 July 2025
-
Despite the backlash, the GHF is encouraging other organizations — including its critics — to join its mission to bring aid to the people of Gaza while ensuring Hamas does not get its hands on it.—
Rachel Wolf,
FOXNews.com,
1 July 2025
Noun
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But that doesn’t stop a chorus of pessimists from emerging amid periods of market volatility.—
Luke Andriuk,
Forbes.com,
14 May 2025
-
In contrast, pessimists often miss opportunities by holding cash.—
Michael Khouw,
CNBC,
14 Apr. 2025
Noun
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That would mean overcoming opposition from naysayers who argue the successful record of privatization in other countries doesn’t apply in the U.S., which has 10 times the air traffic as Canada.—
Jeremy Bogaisky,
Forbes.com,
26 June 2025
-
These are the kinds of features with which Apple can bring around naysayers.—
Michael Muchmore,
PC Magazine,
12 June 2025
Noun
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According to the skeptics, rollers were too rare and too impractical to have been the starting point for the evolution of the wheel.—
Kai James,
JSTOR Daily,
3 July 2025
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Since then: Several anti-voucher candidates unsuccessfully challenged incumbents, while pro-voucher challengers backed by dark money groups unseated a handful of voucher skeptics.—
Laura L. Davis,
The Tennessean,
2 July 2025
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 18 Jul. 2025.
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