as in pessimistic
having or showing a deep distrust of human beings and their motives
so cynical that he can't understand why anyone would volunteer to help out at a homeless shelter
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of cynical
Beyond the physical destruction, the Great War, as it was then known, destroyed a world where many people believed in progress and gradual advance and replaced it with a cynical and desperate world, in which nations and ideologies were natural and necessary enemies.
—
Literary Hub, 27 May 2026
As for Tom, he’s blindsided by Carl and his former partner arranging the deal with the Department of Defense and even more deeply bruised by handing over precious VA personal data to men who spend their days dreaming up cynical ways to exploit it for profit.
—Scott Tobias, Vulture, 24 May 2026
The cynical, hedonistic Ray experiences love for the first time with a goose voiced by Broadway star Annaleigh Ashford, who gets to show off her talents with a handful of musical numbers.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 22 May 2026
Strong character helps the leader see those flaws clearly without becoming either cynical or complicit.
—Mary Crossan, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for cynical
Literary Hub, 27 May 2026
As for Tom, he’s blindsided by Carl and his former partner arranging the deal with the Department of Defense and even more deeply bruised by handing over precious VA personal data to men who spend their days dreaming up cynical ways to exploit it for profit.
—Scott Tobias, Vulture, 24 May 2026
The cynical, hedonistic Ray experiences love for the first time with a goose voiced by Broadway star Annaleigh Ashford, who gets to show off her talents with a handful of musical numbers.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 22 May 2026
Strong character helps the leader see those flaws clearly without becoming either cynical or complicit.
—Mary Crossan, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for cynical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cynical
Adjective
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The share of employers with a pessimistic view of the job market for new grads has been rising every year since 2022.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA Today,
29 May 2026
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Eighty-one percent of Gen Z believes AI will reduce job opportunities, according to a recent Quinnipiac poll — more pessimistic than any other generation.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
29 May 2026
Adjective
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Shah’s closest ally (and the person most willing to call Shah on his lies to himself and others) is his cousin Zulfi, a gigantic character who Khan energizes with fast-talking charm, sarcastic asides, and an assessing glare that can cut through anyone’s defenses.—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
29 May 2026
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Yet another compared the look to Van Gogh, while others were more than ready to take Bieber up on her presumably sarcastic offer to accept appointments.—
Marci Robin,
Allure,
25 May 2026
Adjective
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Republicans can be convinced that negative stories about their candidates are media put-ons, and Democrats are a little envious that their voters haven’t adopted the same attitude of ignore, fight, move on, maybe sue.—
David Weigel,
semafor.com,
3 June 2026
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The system features an open architecture that pairs a pure lithium metal negative electrode directly with ambient oxygen drawn from the surrounding atmosphere to act as the positive electrode reactant.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
3 June 2026
Adjective
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While a campus novel may not seem like the most logical follow-up, Williams' latest — which centers on the friendship between a misanthropic professor's assistant and a student — is another pitch-black allegory told in gothic, obliterative prose.—
Tiffany Kelly,
Entertainment Weekly,
29 May 2026
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The misanthropic music matched the bleak unreality of the antisocial pandemic world.—
Kieran Press-Reynolds,
Pitchfork,
26 Feb. 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
“Cynical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cynical. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.
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