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
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Recent Examples of cynicism
Unlike the fresh vision of immigrant heritage in Hwang’s early, most affecting play, The Dance and the Railroad (1981), he now — at age 67 — twists that insight in a manner that fools Millennial audiences and the Broadway and television elite into feeling smart about their political cynicism.
—
Armond White, National Review, 21 May 2025
From start to finish, Magic Mike XXL is an absolute joy—a film that boldly rejects toxic masculinity, that isn’t driven by rivalries or alpha dynamics or cynicism, that features men who build each other up, who cry together, who admit fears, who help each other accomplish their goals.
—Travis Bean, Forbes.com, 17 May 2025
The movie at times borders on cynicism, and working as matchmaker could make anyone jaded.
—Eliana Dockterman, Time, 6 May 2025
This all only leads to more cynicism by the public.
—Bradley Tusk, New York Daily News, 2 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for cynicism
Armond White, National Review, 21 May 2025
From start to finish, Magic Mike XXL is an absolute joy—a film that boldly rejects toxic masculinity, that isn’t driven by rivalries or alpha dynamics or cynicism, that features men who build each other up, who cry together, who admit fears, who help each other accomplish their goals.
—Travis Bean, Forbes.com, 17 May 2025
The movie at times borders on cynicism, and working as matchmaker could make anyone jaded.
—Eliana Dockterman, Time, 6 May 2025
This all only leads to more cynicism by the public.
—Bradley Tusk, New York Daily News, 2 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for cynicism
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cynicism
Noun
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Years of economic dysfunction have left the country’s once-thriving middle class in a state of desperation.—
Kareem Chehayeb,
Los Angeles Times,
8 June 2025
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Based on Spoelstra’s success in driving the Heat to and through the playoffs, nothing dramatic needed here, certainly nothing like the Knicks’ act of desperation with Thibodeau.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
7 June 2025
Noun
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Almost two decades later, his family — who spent years grappling with unanswered questions that only fueled their fear and despair — finally learned what happened to him.—
Sam Gillette,
People.com,
13 June 2025
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My Guard’s presence tamped down potentially dangerous outbursts of anger and despair.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
13 June 2025
Noun
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To date, the Facebook post about her story has garnered more than 19,000 reactions, sparking a wave of sorrow and outrage from animal lovers across the country.—
Melissa Fleur Afshar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 June 2025
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Prefaced by a host of personal disasters—the death of her mother’s onetime partner Mary Norcross, her own hospitalization for digestive problems, her mother’s painful shingles and neuralgia—the decade of the 1940s brought sorrow.—
Susan Gubar
June 9,
Literary Hub,
9 June 2025
Noun
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Not all ‘doom and gloom’ Nevertheless, the global business travel market is still on track to top $1.6 trillion by the end of 2025, Neufang said.—
Monica Pitrelli,
CNBC,
29 May 2025
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The film is quite handsome, full of woodsy earth tones and dark clothing, without any bright colors to get in the way of the meditative gloom.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
21 May 2025
Noun
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The vigilante narrative imagines markets populated by sellers only, except that a seller requires a buyer to transact on his, her or – gasp – some computer’s pessimism about the quality of future government income streams.—
John Tamny,
Forbes.com,
25 May 2025
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Reinforcing this historical Chinese pessimism toward the United States is an increasingly widespread and firm belief sustained by the Chinese Communist Party that Washington is committed to containing and weakening China as a nation in order to sustain its own global hegemonic power.—
Michael Swaine,
Twin Cities,
17 May 2025
Noun
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This tale of the power of community spirit in difficult times, interwoven with a fine strand of melancholy, is as disarming and subtly engaging as the director’s unshakeable faith in human decency.—
Leo Barraclough,
Variety,
3 June 2025
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The production gives it a lush feel, but it’s haunted by a certain melancholy.—
David Chiu,
Forbes.com,
24 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cynicism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cynicism. Accessed 17 Jun. 2025.
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