as in critically
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Recent Examples of cynically
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
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
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cynically
Adverb
-
Authorities said the shooter critically wounded Rhonda Dorgan’s parents and a family friend.—
N'dea Yancey-Bragg,
USA Today,
18 Feb. 2026
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Five people were injured — two critically — in an explosion at an upstate New York church Tuesday morning.—
Muri Assunção,
New York Daily News,
17 Feb. 2026
Adverb
-
Seasonal Affective Disorder can negatively impact mental health during winter, but making small changes to your home can help boost your mood.—
Kamron Sanders,
The Spruce,
22 Feb. 2026
-
Driving through deep water can also negatively affect a vehicle's mechanical and electrical systems.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
22 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
-
Sixty percent of the public now has unfavorable views of ICE, compared with 37% of Americans who viewed the agency unfavorably in 2018.—
Brian Bennett,
Time,
17 Feb. 2026
-
An August Pew Research Center survey found 39% of respondents viewed the DOJ favorably, while 46% viewed it unfavorably.—
Kaelan Deese,
The Washington Examiner,
15 Feb. 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
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Rosenbury notes disapprovingly that there was a petition to rescind Kirk’s invitation.—
Louis Menand,
New Yorker,
26 Sep. 2025
Adverb
-
Many experts had thought sharks didn’t exist in the frigid waters of Antarctica before this sleeper shark lumbered warily and briefly into the spotlight of a video camera, researcher Alan Jamieson said this week.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
18 Feb. 2026
-
The New York of the nineteen-eighties was, warily, a city in transition.—
Adam Gopnik,
New Yorker,
12 Jan. 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
Cite this Entry
“Cynically.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cynically. Accessed 25 Feb. 2026.
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