as in critically
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Recent Examples of cynically
The barely disguised soullessness with which AI leaders operate, perhaps, has provided a window for entrepreneurs to peddle a more humane message, in good faith or not in good faith, naively or cynically.
—
Frank Landymore, Futurism, 22 Jan. 2026
Fairly or unfairly, genuinely or cynically, questions about Mamdani and Israel—and Palestine, and Jews, and faith, and war, and peace—appear likely to continue.
—Molly Fischer, New Yorker, 21 Jan. 2026
The challenge for Washington lies in avoiding the false choice between regime change by force, with unforeseen consequences, and spectacular but cynically symbolic action.
—Ali Vaez, Time, 15 Jan. 2026
And it’s only gotten harder, because in America our current government has quite purposefully and cynically co-opted a lot of conspiratorial thinking to muddy the waters to further their own cultural and political project.
—Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 13 Jan. 2026
Fighting is satisfying, and big threats, like bosses, are learnable without being predictable, yet tough to fight without ever feeling cynically designed.
—Matt Gardner, Forbes.com, 31 Dec. 2025
Young filed counterclaims against Aetna, claiming the insurer ‘cynically and unscientifically’ denied payments, which may have resulted in people’s deaths.
—Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 6 Nov. 2025
Some will move cynically, making the calculation that accommodation with the Palestinian population is preferable to being a permanent international pariah.
—Jack Sheehan
september 4, Literary Hub, 4 Sep. 2025
These declarations cynically cloak themselves behind ostensible concerns about the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons.
—Amira El-Fekki, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Aug. 2025
Frank Landymore, Futurism, 22 Jan. 2026
Fairly or unfairly, genuinely or cynically, questions about Mamdani and Israel—and Palestine, and Jews, and faith, and war, and peace—appear likely to continue.
—Molly Fischer, New Yorker, 21 Jan. 2026
The challenge for Washington lies in avoiding the false choice between regime change by force, with unforeseen consequences, and spectacular but cynically symbolic action.
—Ali Vaez, Time, 15 Jan. 2026
And it’s only gotten harder, because in America our current government has quite purposefully and cynically co-opted a lot of conspiratorial thinking to muddy the waters to further their own cultural and political project.
—Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 13 Jan. 2026
Fighting is satisfying, and big threats, like bosses, are learnable without being predictable, yet tough to fight without ever feeling cynically designed.
—Matt Gardner, Forbes.com, 31 Dec. 2025
Young filed counterclaims against Aetna, claiming the insurer ‘cynically and unscientifically’ denied payments, which may have resulted in people’s deaths.
—Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 6 Nov. 2025
Some will move cynically, making the calculation that accommodation with the Palestinian population is preferable to being a permanent international pariah.
—Jack Sheehan
september 4, Literary Hub, 4 Sep. 2025
These declarations cynically cloak themselves behind ostensible concerns about the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons.
—Amira El-Fekki, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cynically
Adverb
-
This exchange yielded them two critically important pieces of new information.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Patrick Gary Schlegel, 34, of Sahuarita, was shot and critically injured, according to authorities.—
Natalie Neysa Alund,
USA Today,
28 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
Nylander was a difference-maker in his first game back from injury in over two weeks, both positively and negatively.—
Joshua Kloke,
New York Times,
1 Feb. 2026
-
Driving through deep water can also negatively affect a vehicle's mechanical and electrical systems.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
1 Feb. 2026
Adverb
-
Trump wrote, referring disparagingly to its defense capabilities under Denmark.—
Yuliya Talmazan,
NBC news,
14 Jan. 2026
-
Fatsis quotes a Britannica editor comparing Wikipedia, disparagingly, to a public rest room—a comparison that’s not entirely wrong.—
Louis Menand,
New Yorker,
22 Dec. 2025
Adverb
-
Under the contract, McGraw is barred from using any footage identified by the mayor’s office as compromising public safety, revealing investigatory techniques or portraying NYPD unfavorably.—
Winston Cho,
HollywoodReporter,
22 Jan. 2026
-
Courts look unfavorably on people who receive assets and then immediately file for bankruptcy protection, after all, and doing so could lead to your bankruptcy being denied altogether.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
20 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
Rosenbury notes disapprovingly that there was a petition to rescind Kirk’s invitation.—
Louis Menand,
New Yorker,
26 Sep. 2025
Adverb
-
The New York of the nineteen-eighties was, warily, a city in transition.—
Adam Gopnik,
New Yorker,
12 Jan. 2026
-
So Tehran is likely eyeing these developments very warily.—
Benjamin Weinthal,
FOXNews.com,
3 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
Even so, many in Venezuela seem guardedly optimistic.—
The Atlantic,
The Atlantic,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Martinez is guardedly optimistic that, despite the grim statistics in Fresno — where, on average, 25 pedestrians a year are killed — his hometown can one day replicate Hoboken’s success.—
Johnny Dodd,
PEOPLE,
7 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cynically.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cynically. Accessed 3 Feb. 2026.
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