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
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Recent Examples of cynic
This is not a home for doomers, cynics, or know-it-alls.
—
Daphne Koller, Big Think, 29 Jan. 2026
The belief by cynics is that Netflix wants to be a streaming service.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 26 Dec. 2025
On the other hand, skeptics and cynics tend to be insistent right now that the clean-up activity is not going to last very long.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
Travis Kelce knows what the cynics might think of his relationship with Taylor Swift — two of the most famous people in America just happen to match up perfectly?
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 12 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cynic
Daphne Koller, Big Think, 29 Jan. 2026
The belief by cynics is that Netflix wants to be a streaming service.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 26 Dec. 2025
On the other hand, skeptics and cynics tend to be insistent right now that the clean-up activity is not going to last very long.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
Travis Kelce knows what the cynics might think of his relationship with Taylor Swift — two of the most famous people in America just happen to match up perfectly?
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 12 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cynic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cynic
Noun
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Still, this misanthrope takes somewhat of a liking to Fiona (Florence Ordesh), the woman who shows him to his room and tends the hotel bar.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
30 Apr. 2026
-
The story follows a rag-tag group of misanthropes who attempt to rob jewels from the Vatican.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Trump has been actively endorsing challengers against Republican critics ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.—
Phillip M. Bailey,
USA Today,
17 May 2026
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But this week could bring what critics call the most brazen move yet.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 May 2026
Noun
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That is a hard thing to live with—but, the pessimist would answer, who thought life was supposed to be easy?—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 May 2026
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As late as August 2007, the Federal Reserve was skeptical of such bubble talk, while Grantham was dismissed as a pessimist, a dismissal that soon proved mistaken.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
12 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Jim Cramer is giving Salesforce a chance to prove naysayers wrong after a bearish analyst call Monday.—
Natasha Abellard,
CNBC,
18 May 2026
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And here’s a detail the naysayers miss entirely.—
Clayton Davis,
Variety,
17 May 2026
Noun
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Trump’s administration is filled with election skeptics; federal investigations into 2020 are under way; and conspiracy theorists who were once marginalized now run some local election offices.—
Shane Harris,
The Atlantic,
14 May 2026
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The group includes health and wellness influencers, vaccine skeptics, anti-pesticide advocates and parents concerned about toxic exposures.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
13 May 2026
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 23 May. 2026.
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