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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of cynical
Their actions are politically ruthless and more than a little cynical.
—
Mark Barabak, Mercury News, 19 July 2025
For example, Donald Trump’s approach to power reflects a deeply cynical view of human nature.
—Dave Winsborough, Forbes.com, 19 July 2025
This Superman movie is the most cynical imaginable.
—Armond White, National Review, 11 July 2025
If a chunk of that base becomes jaded and cynical over this, seeing Trump as just another politician carrying water for the ruling class, that could really threaten him politically.
—Carlo Versano, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for cynical
Mark Barabak, Mercury News, 19 July 2025
For example, Donald Trump’s approach to power reflects a deeply cynical view of human nature.
—Dave Winsborough, Forbes.com, 19 July 2025
This Superman movie is the most cynical imaginable.
—Armond White, National Review, 11 July 2025
If a chunk of that base becomes jaded and cynical over this, seeing Trump as just another politician carrying water for the ruling class, that could really threaten him politically.
—Carlo Versano, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for cynical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cynical
Adjective
-
In failing health, Jarry had been on a liquid diet and so his request is often viewed as intentionally ironic.—
Scott Lafee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 July 2025
-
Recently, Reddit users discovered the agent could do something particularly ironic.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
28 July 2025
Adjective
-
And as trade speculation has risen, Harris reported a sarcastic one-word retort from the pitcher.—
Peter Chawaga,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 July 2025
-
Before Black millennial shorthand even existed, there was Maxine Shaw, Attorney at Law—fiercely ambitious, sarcastic, soft in all the right places—and unapologetically Black.—
Shelby Stewart,
Essence,
22 July 2025
Adjective
-
Meanwhile, voters are pessimistic about the country's trajectory.—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 July 2025
-
Younger Americans tend to have lower confidence in Social Security, with Americans in their 30s being the most pessimistic, the survey found.—
Lorie Konish,
CNBC,
24 July 2025
Adjective
-
The blood-alcohol test results of the camp counselor came back negative as well, the Coast Guard said.—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
3 Aug. 2025
-
The two-month downward revision in jobs hadn’t been this negative since Covid, and before that, the global financial crisis in October 2008.—
Philip Maymin,
Forbes.com,
3 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Wood starred as hopeless romantic Chelsea, who was on vacation with her older, misanthropic boyfriend Rick (Walton Goggins).—
EW.com,
EW.com,
28 May 2025
-
Brief yet dense and full of misanthropic humor, Portal holds the hell up nearly twenty years later.—
Joshua Rivera,
Vulture,
6 May 2025
Adjective
-
Some students might be tempted to argue against it entirely, assuming that admissions officers will favor this kind of response or be skeptical of those who express too favorable views of the technology.—
Christopher Rim,
Forbes.com,
30 July 2025
-
LeCun, who has been openly skeptical that current approaches to AI will lead to human-level AI, let alone superintelligence, has been increasingly sidelined in Meta’s drive to develop AI models and products.—
Jeremy Kahn,
Fortune,
29 July 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 6 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share