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
But cynicism is exactly what unethical politicians count on.
—
Matt Germer, Oc Register, 7 Sep. 2025
Throwing technology at problems without understanding how work gets done day-to-day is a surefire way to waste money and breed cynicism.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 3 Sep. 2025
There is a bit of cynicism in online circles about Johnson readying an awards campaign after a series of blockbusters that underperformed, but that should dissolve when more people see the film.
—Marcus Jones, IndieWire, 2 Sep. 2025
There are no traces of guile, cynicism, arrogance or duplicity.
—John T. Shaw, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cynicism
Matt Germer, Oc Register, 7 Sep. 2025
Throwing technology at problems without understanding how work gets done day-to-day is a surefire way to waste money and breed cynicism.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 3 Sep. 2025
There is a bit of cynicism in online circles about Johnson readying an awards campaign after a series of blockbusters that underperformed, but that should dissolve when more people see the film.
—Marcus Jones, IndieWire, 2 Sep. 2025
There are no traces of guile, cynicism, arrogance or duplicity.
—John T. Shaw, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cynicism
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cynicism
Noun
-
Trailing by two scores in the fourth quarter, Dart shifted into desperation mode.—
Dan Duggan,
New York Times,
6 Oct. 2025
-
Okane is desperate at the prospect of losing both her true love and her one defender, and her desperation gives rise to extravagant and harrowing drama.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
2 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
There’s not even a sadness or an anger.—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
1 Oct. 2025
-
When his dog, Grace, died the year before, at the age of sixteen and a half, the sadness was overwhelming.—
Ann Patchett,
New Yorker,
29 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Most powerful of all is Ritchie’s (Bill Hader / Finn Wolfhard) coming-out story, which leaves the viewer in despair.—
Samantha Allen,
Them.,
7 Oct. 2025
-
But people also described the despair of not being able to reach family or colleagues.—
Zahra Nader,
Time,
3 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Those human qualities help break down walls between him and Eve, played with great spirit by Lee as a genius holding onto her sorrow.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
7 Oct. 2025
-
The work contains sonorous bouts of sorrow, but rage is its primary register.—
Alex Ross,
New Yorker,
6 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
September was supposed to be all doom and gloom.—
Rebecca Rubin,
Variety,
1 Oct. 2025
-
Meanwhile, job growth hasn’t been as robust as other indicators have been, casting gloom over the housing market.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
27 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
At New York Fashion Week, beauty acted as a moment of reprise from the hopelessness many are feeling in the current state of the world.—
Essence,
Essence,
19 Sep. 2025
-
The film certainly steers clear of Emmerichian overdrive, but it is suffused with hopelessness — on both an intimate and an epic scale.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
19 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Also, the survey showed more pessimism about finances, as views on their current financial situation saw its biggest one-month drop since the question was asked in July 2022.—
Jeff Cox,
CNBC,
30 Sep. 2025
-
Agitated, anxious honeybees, on the other hand, responded with pessimism when researchers shook them to simulate a predatory attack.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
25 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
An aura of melancholy does not stop Madvillainy from being endlessly joyful and playful.—
Pitchfork,
Pitchfork,
30 Sep. 2025
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But even here, the ache of the lovers’ separation registers with only a muffled sense of melancholy.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
11 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cynicism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cynicism. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
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