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.

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

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 There's also cynicism about whether participating in elections will make a difference. — ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026 Cybersecurity, older and more diffuse, is united by a culture of cynicism, pragmatism, and dark humor. — Harry Booth, Time, 20 Oct. 2026 John Steinbeck wrote Cathy Ames, the antagonist of his novel East of Eden, as the embodiment of original sin, and in Zoe Kazan’s Netflix adaptation, Florence Pugh deftly channels the character’s ambition and cynicism. — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 16 Oct. 2026 If your daily social environment consists of people complaining about how terrible everything is, cynicism can begin to feel normal to you. — Vinesh Sukumaran, Forbes.com, 13 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for cynicism

Recent Examples of Synonyms for cynicism

Noun

The two-time Pro Bowl quarterback dislocated his right thumb when his throwing hand hit Vikings linebacker Blake Cashman on a desperation pass on fourth down that was intercepted late in the fourth quarter of a 23-16 loss in Week 3.

— Rob Maaddi, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 Oct. 2026
Such a gamble could deepen Israel’s insecurity, but electoral desperation seldom improves anyone’s judgment.

— Ali Vaez, Time, 21 Oct. 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

But genuinely funny moments are rare, badly outnumbered by done-to-death musings regarding the mysteries of being alive and torturous melodramatic moments in which Klara dully absorbs the severity of Josie’s illness and Chrissy’s sorrow.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026
Crystal’s deep and profound sorrow at the loss of his director and friend Rob Reiner, not to mention Robin WIlliams, are very much present in the show.

— Chris Jones, New York Daily News, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of sorrow

Noun

The gloom was useful for masking scavenging activities and for concealing one’s identity.

— Jeff Spry, Space.com, 21 Oct. 2026
Neither maudlin nor melodramatic, and without any glorification, the song is infected by the same chilling gloom which has glommed onto the best of Messrs Linkous, Berman, and Drake.

— Gabriel Szatan, Pitchfork, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of gloom

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

Browse Nearby Words

cynically

cynicism

cynics

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Cynicism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cynicism. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of cynicism

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

grotesque

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE

Popular

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes