Meaning & use
cynic
A person who believes people are motivated mainly by self-interest and distrusts sincere or generous intentions.
See it in a sentence
Being a cynic, he assumed the charity's real goal was publicity rather than helping anyone.
Years of disappointment turned the once hopeful young reporter into a cynic about politics.
A note on using this word
A cynic doubts good motives specifically; a skeptic more broadly doubts claims or beliefs without judging character.
Words with a similar meaning
skepticpessimist
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
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