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
There’s a general cynicism to most things.
—
Mike Ryan, IndieWire, 4 June 2026
Earned and justified cynicism aside, Beuerlein firmly believes that the Cowboys should be good.
—Mac Engel
june 4, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 June 2026
Even if some cynicism is an inevitable aspect of life in New York, though, another city does seem possible, especially in this first half of 2026.
—Kevin Lozano, Harpers Magazine, 2 June 2026
Forgive my cynicism, but the owners created this unfortunate landscape, insisting the sport’s competitive balance is out of whack when the standings, again, indicate otherwise.
—Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 27 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for cynicism
Mike Ryan, IndieWire, 4 June 2026
Earned and justified cynicism aside, Beuerlein firmly believes that the Cowboys should be good.
—Mac Engel
june 4, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 June 2026
Even if some cynicism is an inevitable aspect of life in New York, though, another city does seem possible, especially in this first half of 2026.
—Kevin Lozano, Harpers Magazine, 2 June 2026
Forgive my cynicism, but the owners created this unfortunate landscape, insisting the sport’s competitive balance is out of whack when the standings, again, indicate otherwise.
—Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 27 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for cynicism
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cynicism
Noun
-
For me, the art was a distraction, an effort to generate excitement and sell extra tickets — something that the garden, which is attracting large numbers of visitors lately, no longer needs to do with such desperation.—
Ray Mark Rinaldi,
Denver Post,
7 June 2026
-
This is a strategy born not of manly strength, but of submissive desperation.—
Helen Lewis,
The Atlantic,
5 June 2026
Noun
-
The news of his death was met with shock and sadness from fans, players and fellow broadcasters around the NBA.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
7 June 2026
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But sadness also, along with regret, surrounding Arguijo-Mejia.—
Eric Adler,
Kansas City Star,
6 June 2026
Noun
-
Those raw emotions and moments of shared experience, which can be so hard to find in a fractured society, will be replicated all over the world in the coming weeks, bring families, communities and entire nations together, uniting them in hope, joy and, of course, despair.—
Oliver Kay,
New York Times,
11 June 2026
-
On the other side of the couch, Kyle sits staring at them both, alternating between anger and grief, and although Andy didn’t spend much time trying to peel back the layers of Kyle’s despair, his aimlessness is as much at the heart of this season as anything Amanda and West did.—
Kathryn VanArendonk,
Vulture,
10 June 2026
Noun
-
Should this come to pass, Kennedy and his allies will have succeeded in Making Microbes Great Again—to our swift and deepening sorrow.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 June 2026
-
Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed sorrow over the crash, paying tribute to the military personnel killed.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
10 June 2026
Noun
-
Zesty mandarin and warm amber break through the June gloom, offering a cozy yet uplifting effect underlined by fragrant cardamom.—
Ariel Wodarcyk,
InStyle,
4 June 2026
-
But beyond the doom and gloom, China’s soccer future may no longer depend solely on top-down ambition.—
Reagan Yip,
CNN Money,
3 June 2026
Noun
-
That essay, written in 1940 — the same year Native Son was published — is suffused with profound hopelessness for what was indeed to come.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 June 2026
-
Like Makki, many grapple with guilt and hopelessness.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
4 June 2026
Noun
-
In fact, the views of the five England fans who spoke to The Athletic are dominated by clear-eyed realism and learned pessimism.—
Jack Pitt-Brooke,
New York Times,
10 June 2026
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So much of the pessimism and the despair that fueled the piece has even greater purchase now.—
Emily Watlington,
ARTnews.com,
10 June 2026
Noun
-
Absent the lush melancholy of classic synth-pop, what Hervé and Amato had in common with their forbears was a spirit of innovation rooted in profound laziness.—
Walden Green,
Pitchfork,
23 May 2026
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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
Cite this Entry
“Cynicism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cynicism. Accessed 13 Jun. 2026.
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