as in desperation
cynical beliefs; beliefs that people are generally selfish and dishonest
Nothing could change her cynicism about politics.
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Recent Examples of cynicism
Released during Obama’s first term, this movie’s cynicism didn’t go over super-well; the film’s negative reviews were particularly hard on the idea that maybe Democrats and Republicans can both be bad.
—
Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 20 Mar. 2026
The news of the Angels slowing down Grayson Rodriguez because of soreness was greeted with cynicism around baseball because Rodriguez has been through so many serious injuries.
—Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 20 Mar. 2026
But that reality — and cynicism like Cronenberg’s — keeps me sane.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 20 Mar. 2026
But such is the startling sophistication of artificial intelligence, and the reckless abandon with which it is deployed to deceive online, cynicism seems a healthy side-dish to many viral moments.
—Jake Kanter, Deadline, 18 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cynicism
Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 20 Mar. 2026
The news of the Angels slowing down Grayson Rodriguez because of soreness was greeted with cynicism around baseball because Rodriguez has been through so many serious injuries.
—Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 20 Mar. 2026
But that reality — and cynicism like Cronenberg’s — keeps me sane.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 20 Mar. 2026
But such is the startling sophistication of artificial intelligence, and the reckless abandon with which it is deployed to deceive online, cynicism seems a healthy side-dish to many viral moments.
—Jake Kanter, Deadline, 18 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cynicism
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cynicism
Noun
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The freshmen went back in forth, but Illinois missed its last three desperation attempts and UConn made five of its six free throws down the stretch.—
Joe Arruda,
Hartford Courant,
5 Apr. 2026
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Deftly drawing from folk, soul, blues, funk and country, Armatrading sings of love lost, won and desired, heady aspirations and quiet desperation, in a deep, richly moving voice.—
George Varga,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
5 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Curtis revealed that Annie, who welcomed her baby boy with husband Jason Wolf in December, was able to take the grief and sadness of losing her godparents and birth as a new beginning.—
Kayla Grant,
PEOPLE,
2 Apr. 2026
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There will be deaths, of characters as well as relationships, but McInerney’s always-sharp insights on social strata and human nature guarantee that in the midst of sadness we are also entertained.—
Bethanne Patrick,
Los Angeles Times,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The festival hopes to encourage artists and fans to turn to comedy, theater, creativity and community instead of despair.—
Candace Hansen,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Apr. 2026
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Resisting despair, both private and social, has long been central to Lerner’s mission.—
Giles Harvey,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Of those witnesses, only one testified to seeing Tex show any signs of sorrow.—
Lauren A. White,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
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Redemptive suffering Shared sorrow is a key part of Iran’s Twelver Shiite identity, which venerates the Prophet Muhammad’s family through daughter Fatima and cousin and son-in-law, Ali.—
Mary Thurlkill,
The Conversation,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Amid the doom and gloom of news coverage, audiences are hungry for wholesome feel-good content like animal videos.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
26 Mar. 2026
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According to Cramer, the street chose to focus on the doom and gloom of rising oil prices, disregarding Wednesday's pullback.—
Natasha Abellard,
CNBC,
25 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The other featured a comeback that saw hopelessness turn into jubilation.—
Peter Warren,
Houston Chronicle,
28 Mar. 2026
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For her and many other Iranians who spoke to CNN – their surnames withheld to protect their identities – the past three weeks have been filled with a sense of hopelessness and fear.—
Leila Gharagozlou,
CNN Money,
20 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The closest the Genesee came to pessimism was a Dylan T-shirt or two in the lobby with a skeleton wearing a top hat.—
Christopher Borrelli,
Chicago Tribune,
31 Mar. 2026
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Since then, oil markets have been on a roller coaster, rising up and down alongside pessimism and optimism for a quick end to the war.—
Stephan Bisaha,
NPR,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The film’s empathetic interest in individual, often eccentric human lives gives it a warmth that overrides the underlying melancholy of the material, making for a pleasingly unsentimental crowdpleaser.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
24 Mar. 2026
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Some acknowledged the possibility that melancholy could be inherited.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cynicism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cynicism. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.
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