as in ironical
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
That, or like a cynical attempt to keep the franchise going, even though nobody seemed all that enthusiastic about Season Two.
—
Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 27 June 2025
Channel a cynical industry veteran who's seen it all.
—Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 24 June 2025
Everything promised by his new venture suggests a breakthrough in the most cynical sense: an advancement prioritizing ease of use, designed to make the old way extinct in its pursuit of maximum efficiency.
—Sheldon Pearce, NPR, 17 June 2025
Too often, leaders are stuck between moral maximalism and cynical cost-cutting.
—Hec Paris Insights, Forbes.com, 25 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for cynical
Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 27 June 2025
Channel a cynical industry veteran who's seen it all.
—Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 24 June 2025
Everything promised by his new venture suggests a breakthrough in the most cynical sense: an advancement prioritizing ease of use, designed to make the old way extinct in its pursuit of maximum efficiency.
—Sheldon Pearce, NPR, 17 June 2025
Too often, leaders are stuck between moral maximalism and cynical cost-cutting.
—Hec Paris Insights, Forbes.com, 25 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for cynical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cynical
Adjective
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Which is to say the title of Portuguese director João Rosas‘ debut feature isn’t at all ironic: This droll, delightful romantic comedy is an ode to the good times that can be had amid and around heartache, and the healing that eventually comes out of that very conflict.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
10 July 2025
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His older brother, Shaquille Hollingsworth, said Harper's death is ironic, knowing his love of the water.—
Jade Jackson,
IndyStar,
9 July 2025
Adjective
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Mamdani joined her for a sarcastic infomercial on her account, criticizing Mayor Adams’ record.—
CT Jones,
Rolling Stone,
26 June 2025
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Teaming up with Rebels like the enigmatic Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) and the sarcastic droid K-2SO (Alan Tudyk), Jyn’s quest for salvation and redemption runs right up to the beginning of the original film, Star Wars: A New Hope.—
Mekishana Pierre,
EW.com,
26 June 2025
Adjective
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The strategist expects a wide range of outcomes, citing bullish signals around sentiment that conflict with more pessimistic GDP forecasts.—
Sarah Min,
CNBC,
14 July 2025
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So while calls still outflank puts on an absolute basis, the high percentile means options traders have been much more pessimistic than usual.—
Schaeffer's Investment Research,
Forbes.com,
10 July 2025
Adjective
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Another client taught me to rub Epsom salts under my armpits and feet to remove the day’s negative energy.—
Megan Ulu-Lani Boyanton,
Denver Post,
10 July 2025
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That projection is based on the tariffs raising $2.6 trillion overall, while being offset by $418 billion in negative impacts.—
Alison Durkee,
Forbes.com,
10 July 2025
Adjective
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Wood starred as hopeless romantic Chelsea, who was on vacation with her older, misanthropic boyfriend Rick (Walton Goggins).—
EW.com,
EW.com,
28 May 2025
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Brief yet dense and full of misanthropic humor, Portal holds the hell up nearly twenty years later.—
Joshua Rivera,
Vulture,
6 May 2025
Adjective
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Coastal elites are always skeptical about whether a fast-growth, deep tech company can be built in the Midwest.—
Kathleen Gallagher,
jsonline.com,
15 July 2025
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In their interviews with town businessmen, the Sodality women try to convince the men that more hygienic practices will actually improve their bottom line, but the men are skeptical: why do anything new?—
Deborah Williams
July 14,
Literary Hub,
14 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
“Cynical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cynical. Accessed 22 Jul. 2025.
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