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
His contributions have been met with some cynicism.
—
Sophie Austin, Fortune, 29 Apr. 2026
In the face of oppression and cynicism, kindness and joy are revolutionary acts.
—Michael Schneider, Variety, 27 Apr. 2026
The cynicism of this strategy is astonishing.
—Isaac Stanley-Becker, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2026
What makes Becky Shaw so fulfilling is its cynicism about love and its ruthless method of hurling those frustrations at its audience.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cynicism
Sophie Austin, Fortune, 29 Apr. 2026
In the face of oppression and cynicism, kindness and joy are revolutionary acts.
—Michael Schneider, Variety, 27 Apr. 2026
The cynicism of this strategy is astonishing.
—Isaac Stanley-Becker, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2026
What makes Becky Shaw so fulfilling is its cynicism about love and its ruthless method of hurling those frustrations at its audience.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cynicism
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cynicism
Noun
-
In desperation, Layla calls her estranged sister Shams (Abeer Mohammed), living in territory governed by the other side.—
Jay Weissberg,
Variety,
17 May 2026
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On her third match point, Svitolina dug a ball out of the corner, chased one down near the service line, then charged the net and blocked the final ball past Gauff with a desperation stab.—
Matthew Futterman,
New York Times,
16 May 2026
Noun
-
The prospect filled me with surprising sadness.—
Hannah Goldfield,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
-
The bittersweet tale infused with humor and sadness chimed with the Cannes audience.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
15 May 2026
Noun
-
Condal also saw what was happening and felt despair.—
Kate Aurthur,
Variety,
20 May 2026
-
Farmers in despair Without insurance, Kongphan, an immigrant from Thailand, has been trying to obtain government aid and figure out how to level earth moved by the floodwaters.—
Jennifer Sinco Kelleher,
Los Angeles Times,
17 May 2026
Noun
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Yet this book is written more in sorrow than in anger.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 May 2026
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Late in the picture, a display of kindness from the elderly Catalan woman Lucila looks after introduces an unexpected reciprocity of care — even with those unfamiliar with her sorrows and the intricacies of her cultural background.—
Carlos Aguilar,
IndieWire,
13 May 2026
Noun
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Even as Gen Z faces a labor market mired in uncertainty, receiving mixed signals about how AI will reshape the future of work, Upwork President and CEO Hayden Brown is not doom-and-gloom.—
Jacqueline Munis,
Fortune,
19 May 2026
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Kieran Trippier has been one of those players for Newcastle United; a ripple-maker, a gloom-buster and a standard-bearer.—
George Caulkin,
New York Times,
16 May 2026
Noun
-
Advertisement For decades, the dominant story about Watts was one of pathology and hopelessness.—
Terry McDonell,
Time,
21 Apr. 2026
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The other featured a comeback that saw hopelessness turn into jubilation.—
Peter Warren,
Houston Chronicle,
28 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Respondents pointed to the potential harms of AI on creativity and relationships and expressed pessimism about its impact on education and jobs.—
Kevin Breuninger,Annie Palmer,
CNBC,
20 May 2026
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Early buzz for Saturday Night Live UK was tempered by a classic sense of British pessimism.—
David Renshaw,
Vulture,
20 May 2026
Noun
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While the actors are committed, poignant and warm, their upbeat tone doesn’t always blend well with the melancholy of the picture.—
Tomris Laffly,
Variety,
13 May 2026
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These flashes of melancholy or yearning give the record complexity and depth, as well as stopping it from devolving into wackiness.—
Alastair Shuttleworth,
Pitchfork,
2 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cynicism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cynicism. Accessed 23 May. 2026.
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