as in ironic
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
Boomers saw Gen Xers, that’s me, as cynical slackers.
—
Harvard Business Review, 30 Dec. 2025
His words were just blissfully straightforward compared to the constant, cynical mind games of his predecessor.
—Alex Kalinauckas, New York Times, 24 Dec. 2025
Such a campaign was an opportunity for a particularly cynical type of politician to gain power and influence.
—Talya Zax, The Atlantic, 23 Dec. 2025
Because as cynical as that reboot game is someone had to write a script, someone had to have a directorial vision, someone had to think about and perform the character, someone had to design a set.
—Julian Sancton, HollywoodReporter, 22 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cynical
Harvard Business Review, 30 Dec. 2025
His words were just blissfully straightforward compared to the constant, cynical mind games of his predecessor.
—Alex Kalinauckas, New York Times, 24 Dec. 2025
Such a campaign was an opportunity for a particularly cynical type of politician to gain power and influence.
—Talya Zax, The Atlantic, 23 Dec. 2025
Because as cynical as that reboot game is someone had to write a script, someone had to have a directorial vision, someone had to think about and perform the character, someone had to design a set.
—Julian Sancton, HollywoodReporter, 22 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cynical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cynical
Adjective
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Now, in an ironic twist of a slasher’s blade, Miska returning to the internet horror field, this time as the owner of Bloody Disgusting’s chief competitor, Dread Central.—
Borys Kit,
HollywoodReporter,
6 Jan. 2026
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The memes, commentary, and speculation became a culture unto itself, a loop of ironic posting, information warring, and commentary on commentary—all before his shooter was identified or Kirk was even pronounced dead.—
Charlie Warzel,
The Atlantic,
6 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Past statements or e-mails can be taken out of context, with dangerous results, so carefully phrase your statements in board meetings or in e-mails, — and avoid intemperate or sarcastic remarks.—
Kelly G. Richardson,
Oc Register,
9 Jan. 2026
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It was greeted by the sound of loud, sarcastic cheering by the old London Road end and by Malcolm Shotton, Oxford’s moustachioed coach, who could have used the Pringles logo as a passport photo, throwing his jacket into the crowd in sarcastic celebration.—
The Athletic UK Staff,
New York Times,
3 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Forecasting is never foolproof, but since the pandemic, professional forecasters have been mostly on target, if a little pessimistic.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
12 Jan. 2026
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Still, Wall Street is pessimistic about Tesla shares this year.—
Jeran Wittenstein,
Fortune,
11 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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For decades, researchers have compared places with higher and lower levels of pollutants and have looked at differences in premature deaths and other negative health outcomes while controlling for other factors that could affect those numbers.—
Andrea Thompson,
Scientific American,
14 Jan. 2026
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The Iowa Board of Educational Examiners is now being sued for soliciting complaints about teachers who made negative public comments about Charlie Kirk in the wake of the conservative activist’s death last fall.—
Clark Kauffman,
Des Moines Register,
14 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Trilogy is disturbing and alluring, with its ghostly production and chillingly misanthropic undercurrent.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 Jan. 2026
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Avi Schiffmann, the company’s 23-year-old CEO, has been cast as a misanthropic tech founder emblematic of Silicon Valley’s ills.—
Lila Shroff,
The Atlantic,
20 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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Others are more skeptical about whether Greenland’s critical and rare earth minerals can significantly reduce the West’s dependence on China, which produced 70% of rare earths in 2024, according to Statista.—
Kai Nicol-Schwarz,
CNBC,
12 Jan. 2026
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Told of the contamination by the Free Press, Oquendo was skeptical that it was contaminated.—
Violet Ikonomova,
Freep.com,
12 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
“Cynical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cynical. Accessed 20 Jan. 2026.
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