cynicism

noun

Definition of cynicismnext
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

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 Belief and cynicism can exist in the same office and within the same person. — Jieun Baek, Foreign Affairs, 30 Oct. 2026 A lot of that cynicism plus hopefulness comes out of the experience of modern life and day-to-day life. — Sam MacDonald, Scientific American, 28 Oct. 2026 One of his diary entries of the time shows his absolute cynicism. — Literary Hub, 27 Oct. 2026 For Whitford, cynicism is far more dangerous to democracy than corniness. — David MacK, CNN Money, 25 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for cynicism
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cynicism
  1. desperation
  2. sadness
  3. despair
  4. sorrow
  5. gloom
  6. hopelessness
  7. pessimism
  8. melancholy
Noun
  • But across this wolf may cry, her breathy delivery becomes so uniform that longing, frustration, and romantic desperation frequently sound indistinguishable.
    — Precious Fondren, Pitchfork, 6 Nov. 2026
  • Our community is dying; there’s an underlying sense of desperation, grief and pride that can both protect and suffocate out of a need to survive – this film is ultimately a love letter to us, with a sense of knowing.
    — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of desperation
Noun
  • Through such simple but evocative images, Zhang creates a whole world of suspicion and sadness.
    — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 6 Nov. 2026
  • Throughout, there’s a lingering sadness, which is properly explored in a superb episode made up of a trifecta of flashbacks, and his dour constitution still pairs perfectly with Helen’s reassuring nature.
    — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of sadness
Noun
  • What really sets Black Doves apart, though, are its lovable characters and its beguiling mix of laughs and tears, which flirt with existential despair without ever fully tipping into it.
    — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 5 Nov. 2026
  • The throngs of freedmen and women only compounded white Georgians’ despair.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of despair
Noun
  • Words cannot express the profound sorrow our department and community feel tonight over the loss of our fallen hero, who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to Lakewood.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 6 Nov. 2026
  • What feels like a weight of helplessness and sorrow on our shoulders may, with enough space, also reflect our remarkable capacities for strength, steadfastness, and compassion.
    — Robert M. Kinast, STAT, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of sorrow
Noun
  • Moments later, the six of us were swallowed up in the gloom of a dense fog.
    — Don J. Dinndorf, Outdoor Life, 31 Oct. 2026
  • Some commentators point to ongoing inflation as the reason for gloom.
    — Erin Kay Lockwood, The Conversation, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of gloom
Noun
  • These were long, agonizing deaths marked by intolerable pain and hopelessness.
    — Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 6 Nov. 2026
  • Symptoms can be similar to depression, and can include persistent feelings of hopelessness or pessimism and difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of hopelessness
Noun
  • Symptoms can be similar to depression, and can include persistent feelings of hopelessness or pessimism and difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 4 Nov. 2026
  • Yinka’s view There is no shortage of pessimism about Africa’s prospects in the AI race.
    — Yinka Adegoke, semafor.com, 30 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

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Cite this Entry

“Cynicism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cynicism. Accessed 9 Nov. 2026.

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