as in desperation
cynical beliefs; beliefs that people are generally selfish and dishonest
Nothing could change her cynicism about politics.
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Recent Examples of cynicism
And promoting studies lacking rigor could backfire and breed cynicism or a sense of doom, rather than care or action.
—
F.d. Flam, Twin Cities, 25 Dec. 2025
That allows the transition between the Ghoul and Cooper to feel smoother, so that Cooper’s increasing cynicism is more in step with the Ghoul’s rising desperation.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 16 Dec. 2025
In Pottersville, greed, corruption and cynicism reign supreme.
—Nora Gilbert, The Conversation, 11 Dec. 2025
Perusing the peanut butter and chocolate chip cookie recipe that Khoury has given Vogue from his book (yes, the one Nigella Lawson loves), any cynicism falls away.
—Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 4 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cynicism
F.d. Flam, Twin Cities, 25 Dec. 2025
That allows the transition between the Ghoul and Cooper to feel smoother, so that Cooper’s increasing cynicism is more in step with the Ghoul’s rising desperation.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 16 Dec. 2025
In Pottersville, greed, corruption and cynicism reign supreme.
—Nora Gilbert, The Conversation, 11 Dec. 2025
Perusing the peanut butter and chocolate chip cookie recipe that Khoury has given Vogue from his book (yes, the one Nigella Lawson loves), any cynicism falls away.
—Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 4 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cynicism
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cynicism
Noun
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At the time, Luchin told ABC7 that financial desperation following the closure of his Walnut Creek restaurant, Ottavio, played a role in his actions.—
Moná Thomas,
PEOPLE,
12 Jan. 2026
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Then Jordan Love's desperation heave into the end zone from the Bears 28 was knocked down as time expired to secure Chicago's first playoff win since the 2010 season.—
Jeramie Bizzle,
CBS News,
12 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Emotions were on full display with many expressing sadness and frustration, not only over Wednesday's federal raid, but raids happening around the Twin Cities over the last 40 days.—
WCCO Staff,
CBS News,
9 Jan. 2026
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The initial answer to that question is a no, according to some evangelical pastors and commentators who reacted with shock and sadness to Yancey’s confession.—
John Blake,
CNN Money,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Whichever way the Denver Broncos' season finishes -- if the coming weeks bring glory or despair -- the story of the end begins in a tiny corner of a hallway inside Empower Field.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
21 Jan. 2026
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Whichever way the Broncos’ 2025 season finishes — if the coming weeks bring glory or despair — the story of the end begins in a tiny corner of a hallway inside Empower Field.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
20 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Death, fear, and sorrow unify the disparate practices.—
Rivka Galchen,
New Yorker,
7 Jan. 2026
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But grief will give you so much more than sorrow.—
Lauren DePino,
CNN Money,
4 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The doom-and-gloom rhetoric dominates today’s cultural conversation.—
William Jones,
Miami Herald,
14 Jan. 2026
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Globes mix glitz and gloom Political tension and industrywide uncertainty were the prevailing moods heading into Sunday’s awards.—
Jake Coyle,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The four teen-agers—Cabey, Barry Allen, Troy Canty, and James Ramseur—came from the South Bronx at a time when the borough was still a national byword for immiseration and hopelessness.—
Adam Gopnik,
New Yorker,
12 Jan. 2026
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The hopelessness and resignation had deepened.—
Russell Lemle,
Mercury News,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
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In retirement planning, this is less about pessimism and more about preparedness.—
Andrew Rosen,
Forbes.com,
22 Jan. 2026
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The film is set in 2029, a mere three years from now, demonstrating both an optimism about the potentiality of AI and a pessimism about the city’s trajectory.—
Frank Scheck,
HollywoodReporter,
21 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Neither a square nor prime number, 2026 is still intriguing Number enthusiasts may be looking to the new year with a touch of melancholy.—
Manon Bischoff,
Scientific American,
10 Jan. 2026
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Cookie cravings, a tinge of melancholy, and the urge to hibernate and fix your life all at once.—
Anna Grace Lee,
Vogue,
8 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cynicism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cynicism. Accessed 23 Jan. 2026.
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