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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Example Sentences

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 That undercurrent of cynicism will be a challenge for Democrats and the Republicans, no matter which party controls Congress. — ABC News, 3 Oct. 2026 Rejecting Question Three would send a powerful signal that not every American is ready to succumb to cynicism and propagate the worst parts of our political culture. — Colin Pascal, Washington Post, 2 Oct. 2026 The movie is an epic series of harrumphs and harangues, propelled from room to room—and, in time, out into the world beyond the estate—by a spirit of impudent absurdism and corrosive cynicism which seems to emanate from Digger himself. — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 30 Sep. 2026 The Italian coda is sweet, allowing Pariser to redeem the concept of love from the cynicism of a world wary of romance. — Jay Weissberg, Variety, 11 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for cynicism

Recent Examples of Synonyms for cynicism

Noun

Both teams now limp into Saturday's game in Austin with bruised bodies and egos, and carrying a whiff of desperation for a win to keep the season from unraveling.

— ABC News, ABC News, 15 Oct. 2026
Brown and her relatives say the fallen officer tragedy has reignited their trauma and desperation for justice.

— Liz Crawford, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of desperation

Noun

There was a moment this week when tears of sadness gave way to elation for one California couple.

— Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026
The local journalists who cover the Bend community every day were not immune from the grief and sadness after today’s deadly shooting of children at an elementary school.

— Phil Helsel, NBC news, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of sadness

Noun

Wichita Mayor Lily Wu said on her personal Facebook page that the incident left her filled with sorrow.

— Dennis Romero, NBC news, 18 Oct. 2026
Like many songwriters who’ve ever poured their romantic sorrows out in their music, the challenge in this new era was getting acquainted with writing from a place of happiness instead, which can be a source of anxiety itself.

— Ethan Millman, HollywoodReporter, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of sorrow

Noun

In that sense, the dead-end setting of their journey across a volatile landscape in which humans might be an afterthought seems to reflect their hopelessness.

— Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2026
What could that dirt road and the horizon beyond it mean—hope or hopelessness?

— Hilton Als, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of hopelessness

Noun

The rally began amid widespread pessimism about inflation and the economy, yet none of those setbacks managed to derail it.

— Alexa LoMonaco, CNBC, 12 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 19 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of cynicism

noun

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