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
Yet worse than credulity — or perhaps just its flip side — is cynicism.
—
David Nurenberg, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2025
Deficient implementation creates cynicism, which tends to decrease trust in leadership.
—Ryan Lahti, Forbes.com, 7 May 2025
The episode also concludes the series itself, which routinely bounced between toe-curling raunch and a fierce sentimentality that sometimes clashed with its trademark cynicism.
—Randall Colburn, EW.com, 5 May 2025
There’s a distinction between grappling with reality, however, and indulging unduly in cynicism.
—Thomas Drance, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cynicism
David Nurenberg, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2025
Deficient implementation creates cynicism, which tends to decrease trust in leadership.
—Ryan Lahti, Forbes.com, 7 May 2025
The episode also concludes the series itself, which routinely bounced between toe-curling raunch and a fierce sentimentality that sometimes clashed with its trademark cynicism.
—Randall Colburn, EW.com, 5 May 2025
There’s a distinction between grappling with reality, however, and indulging unduly in cynicism.
—Thomas Drance, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cynicism
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cynicism
Noun
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Though the film doesn’t have an outwardly strong political message, it’s set against the backdrop of the Vietnam War, adding an extra layer of desperation to O’Connor’s character.—
Ellise Shafer,
Variety,
23 May 2025
-
And to think, that breakout had come entirely out of desperation for pitching depth.—
Ryan Kartje,
Los Angeles Times,
22 May 2025
Noun
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Garrett, Allegany and Washington counties are now symbols of neglect, where economic despair has replaced the industrious and seemingly indomitable spirit that had once defined them.—
Daniel A.C. McBride,
Baltimore Sun,
1 June 2025
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But the Squid Game stops for no one, so Gi-hun will be forced to make some important choices in the face of overwhelming despair as he and the surviving players are thrust into deadlier games that test everyone’s resolve.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
1 June 2025
Noun
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Long time residents throughout the Bay Area and beyond will recall the shock and sorrow of Nov. 27, 1978, when White walked into City Hall and shot Milk and Moscone.—
Georgia Rowe,
Mercury News,
28 May 2025
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In fact, research has found that some animal species may indeed use wit to strengthen their bonds in the same way that many have the capacity for love, fear, sorrow, guilt, anger, shame, disgust and empathy – and that primates smile and some rats can giggle.—
Cecilia Rodriguez,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2025
Noun
-
Boomer Blockade Despite the doom and gloom news cycle.—
Kian Bakhtiari,
Forbes.com,
25 May 2025
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Understandably, media companies don’t want to scare advertisers with lots of doom and gloom.—
Joe Otterson,
Variety,
20 May 2025
Noun
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The scale of pessimism echoed an annual survey of U.S. companies in China released in late January that showed a record share of American businesses were accelerating plans to relocate manufacturing or sourcing.—
Evelyn Cheng,
CNBC,
28 May 2025
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Several factors contribute to our current pessimism regarding the stock.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
20 May 2025
Noun
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At the opposite end of the court, a thick layer of melancholy was present.—
Kelly Iko,
New York Times,
16 May 2025
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The far-reaching melancholy of musical theater has always been front and center in McAlpine’s work, which layers a lyricism of desire on top of string-heavy indie-pop arrangements.—
CT Jones,
Rolling Stone,
11 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cynicism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cynicism. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.
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