Meaning & use
cynical
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Meanings
adjectivecomparabledisapproving
Expecting the worst of people and doubting that they act from honest or unselfish reasons.
Grammar: Used before a noun or after be: a cynical voter, or he is cynical about politics. Followed by about.
Patterns
- cynical about something
- a cynical view of something
After years in politics, she had become cynical about promises.
He gave a cynical laugh when the company spoke of loyalty.
Voters grew cynical about the endless scandals.
adjectivecomparabledisapproving
Done or said with a selfish aim, caring more about gain than about others or about doing right.
Grammar: Describes actions or plans: a cynical attempt, a cynical ploy.
Patterns
- a cynical attempt to do something
- a cynical ploy
The ad was a cynical attempt to sell toys to grieving families.
Critics called the move a cynical ploy to win votes.
It was cynical of him to use her illness to get sympathy.
Word forms
| comparative | more cynical |
|---|---|
| superlative | most cynical |
Common combinations
- cynical about
- Many young people are cynical about the news.
- cynical view
- She takes a cynical view of advertising.
- cynical attempt
- It was a cynical attempt to profit from a tragedy.
- cynical smile
- He gave a cynical smile and shook his head.
- deeply cynical
- The film is deeply cynical about the business world.
- cynical ploy
- The discount was a cynical ploy to clear old stock.
Synonyms and how they differ
- skeptical
- Skeptical means doubting a particular claim until it is proved, while cynical means assuming bad motives in general.
- distrustful
- Distrustful is about not trusting a person or group, and is milder and less sneering than cynical.
- jaded
- Jaded describes someone tired and bored from too much experience, not necessarily suspicious.
- pessimistic
- Pessimistic is about expecting things to go badly, not about doubting people's honesty.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: cynical or skeptical?
cynical vs skeptical
A skeptical person asks for proof before believing. A cynical person assumes people are acting from bad motives, even when there is proof.
Practice
Which sentence best shows a cynical attitude?
Choose one answer.
Cynical means assuming selfish motives in others. Asking for data is skeptical, eager belief is trusting, and nervousness is unrelated.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “cynical”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.