as in critically
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Recent Examples of cynically
The career advice wasn’t cynically wrong.
—
Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 1 June 2026
Sure, the White House is cynically exploiting a painful situation.
—Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 27 Apr. 2026
All these decades later, a great many people still think gasoline supplies and prices are being cynically gamed by the oil companies.
—Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 18 Mar. 2026
Khamenei was their religious and spiritual anchor, a guide through an uncertain age dominated by a superpower that cynically wielded the language of human rights and freedom as cover for its endless appetite for resources and power.
—Alex Shams, Time, 14 Mar. 2026
If men like these call the shots, the regime’s policies will be transformed, however cynically.
—Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 1 Mar. 2026
Nakamura does not see this cynically, but instead hopes to make a positive impact.
—Eduardo Tansley, New York Times, 14 Feb. 2026
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
Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 1 June 2026
Sure, the White House is cynically exploiting a painful situation.
—Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 27 Apr. 2026
All these decades later, a great many people still think gasoline supplies and prices are being cynically gamed by the oil companies.
—Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 18 Mar. 2026
Khamenei was their religious and spiritual anchor, a guide through an uncertain age dominated by a superpower that cynically wielded the language of human rights and freedom as cover for its endless appetite for resources and power.
—Alex Shams, Time, 14 Mar. 2026
If men like these call the shots, the regime’s policies will be transformed, however cynically.
—Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 1 Mar. 2026
Nakamura does not see this cynically, but instead hopes to make a positive impact.
—Eduardo Tansley, New York Times, 14 Feb. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cynically
Adverb
-
Both men were critically wounded, police said.—
Tess Kenny,
Chicago Tribune,
9 June 2026
-
The third child was critically injured.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
8 June 2026
Adverb
-
Driving through deep water can also negatively affect a vehicle's mechanical and electrical systems.—
KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT,
Kansas City Star,
14 June 2026
-
Driving through deep water can also negatively affect a vehicle's mechanical and electrical systems.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
13 June 2026
Adverb
-
The craze has even spawned knockoffs, disparagingly known as Lafufu.—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Sourcing Journal,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Trump wrote, referring disparagingly to its defense capabilities under Denmark.—
Yuliya Talmazan,
NBC news,
14 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
By contrast, 39% of voters viewed Steyer favorably and 43% unfavorably.—
Dakota Smith,
Los Angeles Times,
1 June 2026
-
In Europe, a staggering three quarters of Germans and French view China unfavorably.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 May 2026
Adverb
-
The same goes for her father when there’s no sign of pregnancy and the judgy women at church start clucking disapprovingly.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
15 Feb. 2026
-
Rosenbury notes disapprovingly that there was a petition to rescind Kirk’s invitation.—
Louis Menand,
New Yorker,
26 Sep. 2025
Adverb
-
Beijing, meanwhile, is warily eying Japan’s bolstering of its defense capabilities.—
Simone McCarthy,
CNN Money,
5 June 2026
-
Meanwhile, those students newly entering college are warily eyeing computer science.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2026
Adverb
-
San Diego faces economic challenges in the coming year, but one expert is guardedly optimistic about efforts to address affordability and the potential benefits of artificial intelligence.—
Phillip Molnar,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Even so, many in Venezuela seem guardedly optimistic.—
The Atlantic,
The Atlantic,
29 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
“Cynically.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cynically. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
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