as in misanthrope
a person who distrusts other people and believes that everything is done for selfish reasons
a cynic who believes that nobody does a good deed without expecting something in return
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of cynic
The cynics say the wildfires are the death knell of the film business.
—
Todd Heyman, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
As the two moved through the scenes like a pair of tragic jesters, delighting the wide-eyed and annoying the cynics.
—Elise Taylor, Vogue, 16 Jan. 2025
Thus, the Rock Hall is surely more excited at the prospect of inducting current megastars like Beyoncé, Taylor Swift and Lady Gaga than appeasing its cynics.
—Troy Smith, Axios, 14 Jan. 2025
Other cynics tend to follow suit, sitting out elections and social movements more often than non-cynics.
—Jamil Zaki, TIME, 3 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for cynic
Todd Heyman, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
As the two moved through the scenes like a pair of tragic jesters, delighting the wide-eyed and annoying the cynics.
—Elise Taylor, Vogue, 16 Jan. 2025
Thus, the Rock Hall is surely more excited at the prospect of inducting current megastars like Beyoncé, Taylor Swift and Lady Gaga than appeasing its cynics.
—Troy Smith, Axios, 14 Jan. 2025
Other cynics tend to follow suit, sitting out elections and social movements more often than non-cynics.
—Jamil Zaki, TIME, 3 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for cynic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cynic
Noun
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Edward is a misanthrope and a scold (The Imitation Game).—
Graham Hillard,
Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government,
21 Feb. 2025
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In the face of international law enforcement pressure, dozens of prosecutions, and worldwide disrepute, the network of young sadists, misanthropes, child predators, and extortionists known as Com and 764 has not shrunk away into obscurity.—
Ali Winston,
WIRED,
12 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The design has not been without its critics, not for the color as the shape, which some have described as a waste of space.—
David Phelan,
Forbes.com,
23 Apr. 2025
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Despite going above and beyond to prove differently, Uso was unable to satiate his harshest critics.—
Ross Rosenfeld,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 Apr. 2025
Noun
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In another survey, optimists were 40% more likely to get promoted over the next year, six times more likely to be highly engaged at work and five times less likely to burn out than pessimists.—
Caroline Castrillon,
Forbes.com,
6 Apr. 2025
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Major Intermediate Buy Signal Still Intact The AAII Bull-Bear Spread residing at minus 40.1 continues to reflect a percentage of pessimists trouncing the optimists by a factor of 3, with recent readings some of the most Bearish in history, given that Main Street is usually Bullish.—
John Buckingham,
Forbes,
17 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Nitpicking and naysayers may have some slight doubt and Aberg has lost strokes Around the Green in three of his last four starts and Putting in two of his last four tournaments.—
Jay Ginsbach,
Forbes.com,
4 Apr. 2025
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Everything had to go perfectly the next two days, all while TV news camera crews on boats and naysayers on land watched on.—
Amanda Rosa,
Miami Herald,
21 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Some skeptics raised concerns that offering users cryptocurrency in exchange for using the technology could encourage them to overlook potential privacy risks.—
Clare Duffy,
CNN Money,
21 Apr. 2025
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Online skeptics questioned everything from the purpose of celebrity space travel to the optics of the high-profile mission.—
Melissa Noel,
Essence,
15 Apr. 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
“Cynic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cynic. Accessed 2 May. 2025.
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