as in ironical
having or showing a deep distrust of human beings and their motives
so cynical that he can't understand why anyone would volunteer to help out at a homeless shelter
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of cynical
Early in 2008, when Clinton briefly welled up in a coffee shop after a bruising loss in the Iowa caucus, the moment was interpreted as being a melodramatic scandal fit for TMZ and a cynical ploy for attention that eventually won her New Hampshire.
—
Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 15 Apr. 2025
And yet beneath the glitter, the past endures – often in silence, sometimes in cynical exploitation.
—Sophal Ear, The Conversation, 14 Apr. 2025
Christian Norgaard and Kevin Schade were booked six minutes apart in the first half for cynical challenges to stop Arsenal advancing with dribbles.
—Liam Tharme, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2025
But some researchers and advocates see the demand for this research as cynical, given the administration recently slashed funding for hundreds of studies about important physical and mental health issues facing people in the LGBTQ community, including trans people.
—Rob Stein, NPR, 11 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cynical
Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 15 Apr. 2025
And yet beneath the glitter, the past endures – often in silence, sometimes in cynical exploitation.
—Sophal Ear, The Conversation, 14 Apr. 2025
Christian Norgaard and Kevin Schade were booked six minutes apart in the first half for cynical challenges to stop Arsenal advancing with dribbles.
—Liam Tharme, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2025
But some researchers and advocates see the demand for this research as cynical, given the administration recently slashed funding for hundreds of studies about important physical and mental health issues facing people in the LGBTQ community, including trans people.
—Rob Stein, NPR, 11 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cynical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cynical
Adjective
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And yet, in an ironic twist, the attorney general’s office may end up benefiting from the flood of legal talent entering the job market as a result of Trump’s tactics.—
Michael Wilner,
Los Angeles Times,
1 May 2025
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Which is sort of ironic, given the current goals of the administration.—
Camila Domonoske,
NPR,
1 May 2025
Adjective
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Goldberg continued before asking her co-hosts their opinions in a sarcastic tone.—
Liza Esquibias,
People.com,
24 Apr. 2025
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Where Jackie is sarcastic, cynical, and all sharp edges, Zoey is enthusiastic and warm.—
Maggie Fremont,
Vulture,
21 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Absent are the absurd characters, rapid-fire jokes, and dryly pessimistic social commentary with which Fey made her name on Saturday Night Live, and that have defined her career, from Mean Girls to 30 Rock.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
1 May 2025
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Even the most pessimistic analysts had the passer as a second-round prospect.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Vermont shows just 25 percent approval and 75 percent disapproval—the most negative margin in the country.—
Mohammed Soliman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Apr. 2025
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Nevertheless, the company foresees a negative effect of roughly $2 billion due to challenges from foreign currency translation in this quarter.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
29 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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To describe Mickey 17 as a sendup, by the way, is to distinguish it from satire, which would require a deeper cynicism or genuine misanthropic disdain.—
Tom Gliatto,
People.com,
7 Mar. 2025
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But, then, genuine misanthropic disdain is part of Verhoeven's tool kit.—
Tom Gliatto,
People.com,
7 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Be skeptical of anyone talking about AI in generalities versus their specific expertise.—
Neil J. Rubenking,
PC Magazine,
2 May 2025
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Since no one on the team had ever excavated a chariot tire before, the archaeologists were initially skeptical.—
Sarah Kuta,
Smithsonian Magazine,
2 May 2025
Video
The History of 'Cynic'
How an ancient philosophical movement devoted to the pursuit of virtue came to describe eye-rolling criticism.
Cite this Entry
“Cynical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cynical. Accessed 11 May. 2025.
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