CYNICISM Synonyms: 76 Similar and Opposite Words

cynicism

noun

Definition of cynicism

as in desperation

cynical beliefs; beliefs that people are generally selfish and dishonest Nothing could change her cynicism about politics.

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of cynicism Belief and cynicism can exist in the same office and within the same person. — Jieun Baek, Foreign Affairs, 30 Oct. 2026 A lot of that cynicism plus hopefulness comes out of the experience of modern life and day-to-day life. — Sam MacDonald, Scientific American, 28 Oct. 2026 One of his diary entries of the time shows his absolute cynicism. — Literary Hub, 27 Oct. 2026 For Whitford, cynicism is far more dangerous to democracy than corniness. — David MacK, CNN Money, 25 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for cynicism

Recent Examples of Synonyms for cynicism

Noun

But across this wolf may cry, her breathy delivery becomes so uniform that longing, frustration, and romantic desperation frequently sound indistinguishable.

— Precious Fondren, Pitchfork, 6 Nov. 2026
Our community is dying; there’s an underlying sense of desperation, grief and pride that can both protect and suffocate out of a need to survive – this film is ultimately a love letter to us, with a sense of knowing.

— Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 5 Nov. 2026

Definition of desperation

Noun

Tsai, the Stanford professor, has conducted research on how emotion in American culture puts value on trying to always feel positive and minimizing negativity and sadness.

— ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026
Survey findings About 28% of Gaston respondents reported moderate or higher levels of negative emotions such as sadness, anxiety, anger or boredom, compared with roughly 10% in Union, Venkitasubramanian said.

— Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of sadness

Noun

And Saturday, with the game temporarily relocated to Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the Gators couldn’t even drown their sorrows in the usual Jacksonville sunshine.

— Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 31 Oct. 2026
Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari expressed sorrow over the deaths and called for a prompt, transparent investigation to determine the cause, according to a statement from his office.

— ABC News, ABC News, 29 Oct. 2026

Definition of sorrow

Noun

Few residents wanted to speak about politics, citing a general feeling of hopelessness and frustration.

— Melanie Lidman, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026
Burdick seemed to have drawn directly from McCarthy’s experience, the hopelessness of fighting with his father over a world his father had already ruined, the surrender to indulgence and mindless violence because…why not?

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of hopelessness

Noun

Downbeat views on the economy are most intense among Democrats and independents, but there's been a strong move toward economic pessimism even among Republicans in recent months.

— Steve Liesman, CNBC, 22 Oct. 2026
Gallup pointed to rising clinical depression and loneliness, difficulty affording housing, fears of losing jobs to artificial intelligence and growing pessimism about the job market as possible contributors to the decline.

— Alex DeLuca, Washington Post, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of pessimism

Noun

The vestiges of his fading memory flash by with a haunting plainness, the melancholy of all this Americana and the sadness of a mind ravaged by time strike the viewer plainly at the end of this maximalist piece of life-writing.

— Stephanie Wambugu, Vulture, 12 Oct. 2026
The question for me is whether or not Lloyd will also manage to capture the melancholy of a deceptively serious play, notwithstanding its reputation.

— Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 23 Sep. 2026

Definition of melancholy

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“Cynicism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cynicism. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of cynicism

noun

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