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
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Recent Examples of cynical
As with Joe Biden and Barack Obama before him — and, indeed, as in his first term — Trump’s flurry of orders is the product of a legislative branch that has been content to leave the spadework to the president, and to a presidency that has begun to take cynical advantage of that trend.
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The Editors, National Review, 22 Jan. 2025
The cynical reactions only proved that these two young men, who have made millions as bro influencers with brand empires before age 30, are still adept at courting attention.
—Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 28 Jan. 2025
After all, dance pop’s supposedly liberating power has often been hijacked over the years for cynical ends, such as Target commercials and Katy Perry albums.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 28 Jan. 2025
Still, when the third act finally arrives, Russell deserves credit for making the audacious decision to deny his characters their comeuppance and instead end the film on a cynical note.
—Natalia Winkelman, IndieWire, 28 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cynical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cynical
Adjective
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How ironic that a color designed to help soldiers blend in is the ultimate sartorial hack for standing out.—
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The practice has existed since at least 1947, when a 21-year-old William F. Buckley and some of his friends showed up at a rally for the left-wing presidential candidate, Henry Wallace, wearing ironic bohemian getups.—
Adjective
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Ally and Jay are both sarcastic, too — their best lines are muttered under their breaths — and their repartee becomes more interesting than the bloody theatrics.—
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When Filip Hronek took a soft point shot that Darcy Kuemper stopped shortly after, the crowd responded with a sarcastic Bronx cheer.—
Adjective
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Germans are more pessimistic about their living standards now than at any time since the financial crisis in 2008.—
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Jones: Welcome back to pessimistic predictions with Andy Jones!—
Adjective
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For some pets, especially those with past negative experiences, loud noises, sudden movements, or aggressive tones can be triggering.—
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Industry traffic was negative every month except November, and sales slid over the summer, which is typically a high point for restaurants.—
Adjective
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Very quickly the ironic, misanthropic tone is established, as is the chemistry among the cast.—
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In turn, Judaism boils down not to an ongoing conversation of faith and morals but one of tired, misanthropic tropes.—
Adjective
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But Gregory remains skeptical, and while Tea might not be my favorite person, the way Dr. G is shifting blame and disrespecting his wife is hard to ignore.—
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Some experts and victims’ relatives remain skeptical that the suspects arrested were the true perpetrators.—
Articles Related to cynical
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 27 Feb. 2025.
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