Cynic
noun
A person who believes that people are motivated purely by self-interest rather than acting for honorable or unselfish reasons.
He's a cynic who thinks everyone is out for themselves.
noun
A person who questions or doubts something.
Cynics would say that the editor's decision was motivated by a desire for higher circulation.
noun
A person who expresses or shows scorn or disdain; a person who habitually sees or seeks the worst in people or situations.
Her cynic's humor was not appreciated by those who believed in the system.
Usage tips
Disapproving
noun
A member of a school of ancient Greek philosophers founded by Antisthenes, marked by an ostentatious contempt for ease and pleasure.
As a cynic, he renounced all possessions and social ties.
Usage tips
Formal
Academic
noun
A person who believes that people are motivated purely by self-interest rather than acting for honorable or unselfish reasons.
He's a cynic who thinks everyone is out for themselves.
noun
A person who questions or doubts something.
Cynics would say that the editor's decision was motivated by a desire for higher circulation.
noun
A person who expresses or shows scorn or disdain; a person who habitually sees or seeks the worst in people or situations.
Her cynic's humor was not appreciated by those who believed in the system.
Usage tips
Disapproving
noun
A member of a school of ancient Greek philosophers founded by Antisthenes, marked by an ostentatious contempt for ease and pleasure.
As a cynic, he renounced all possessions and social ties.
Usage tips
Formal
Academic
Definition 1 of 4
Pro Tip 1/3Negative Connotation
Cynic often implies a negative view of human nature or motivations.
The old man was such a cynic, always saying that charity was just for show.
Pro Tip 2/3Mistrustful Attitude
It suggests that the person doesn't trust others' sincerity or goodness.
As a cynic, she questioned her teammate's sudden helpfulness.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Always Rude
Being a cynic does not necessarily mean being impolite or disrespectful.
His cynical views were presented in a surprisingly polite conversation.
Pro Tip 1/3Negative Connotation
Cynic often implies a negative view of human nature or motivations.
The old man was such a cynic, always saying that charity was just for show.
Pro Tip 2/3Mistrustful Attitude
It suggests that the person doesn't trust others' sincerity or goodness.
As a cynic, she questioned her teammate's sudden helpfulness.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Always Rude
Being a cynic does not necessarily mean being impolite or disrespectful.
His cynical views were presented in a surprisingly polite conversation.
Pro Tip 1/3Negative Connotation
Cynic often implies a negative view of human nature or motivations.
The old man was such a cynic, always saying that charity was just for show.
Pro Tip 2/3Mistrustful Attitude
It suggests that the person doesn't trust others' sincerity or goodness.
As a cynic, she questioned her teammate's sudden helpfulness.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Always Rude
Being a cynic does not necessarily mean being impolite or disrespectful.
His cynical views were presented in a surprisingly polite conversation.
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Video examples
Storytelling can be...
trust anyone whenever you hear a sob story you better get fat checking and now I realize that's not actually true you know samantha has a party is an exception not everyone is out there conning but my cynicism has actually kind of paid off in the sense that you know I have an alert out for all the con
Video examples
Gaming can make a better...
the most likely to stick with a problem as long at it takes, to get up after failure and try again. And in real life, when we face failure, when we confront obstacles, we often don't feel that way. We feel overcome, we feel overwhelmed, we feel anxious, maybe depressed, frustrated or cynical.
Video examples
Bono: The good news on...
liberty is usually around the corner, even for the poorest of the poor -- facts that can challenge cynicism and the apathy that leads to inertia, facts that tell us what's working and, more importantly, what's not, so we can fix it, facts that if we hear them and heed them could help us
Video examples
How we need to remake...
end up advancing the cause of the negative people, the negative emotions, the cranks, the paranoids, the cynics, the nihilists. Those are the ones who get amplified by the system. And you can't pay one of these companies to make the world suddenly nice and improve democracy
Video examples
The philosophy of...
meaning people who criticized others without having anything worthwhile to say. This usage eventually laid the groundwork for the modern meaning of the word “cynic:" a person who thinks everyone else is acting out of pure self-interest,
Video examples
Why should you read “The...
illustrating how Soviet society bred greed and cynicism despite its ideals. And the matter-of-fact narration deliberately blends the strangeness of the supernatural events with the everyday absurdity of Soviet life.
Video examples
Lobo in Love PIPE Lobo PIPE...
was his big chance a cynical new pan formed in his mind during the breeding season which apparently a lot of his story took place that male's tending that female extremely closely he rarely
Video examples
Prison Victim PIPE National...
evidence to support the charges in some ways it's made me bitter some ways has made me more cynical in some ways it's made me angrier it's definitely wounded and scarred me
Video examples
The history of marriage...
There have been many different things written and said about marriage. From the sweetly inspirational to the hilariously cynical. But what many of them have in common
Video examples
How great leaders...
without you even asking." And the cynical majority said, "We don't believe you. We don't need it. We don't like it. You're scaring us." What if they had said,
Video examples
Storytelling can be...
trust anyone whenever you hear a sob story you better get fat checking and now I realize that's not actually true you know samantha has a party is an exception not everyone is out there conning but my cynicism has actually kind of paid off in the sense that you know I have an alert out for all the con
Video examples
Gaming can make a better...
the most likely to stick with a problem as long at it takes, to get up after failure and try again. And in real life, when we face failure, when we confront obstacles, we often don't feel that way. We feel overcome, we feel overwhelmed, we feel anxious, maybe depressed, frustrated or cynical.
Video examples
Bono: The good news on...
liberty is usually around the corner, even for the poorest of the poor -- facts that can challenge cynicism and the apathy that leads to inertia, facts that tell us what's working and, more importantly, what's not, so we can fix it, facts that if we hear them and heed them could help us
Video examples
How we need to remake...
end up advancing the cause of the negative people, the negative emotions, the cranks, the paranoids, the cynics, the nihilists. Those are the ones who get amplified by the system. And you can't pay one of these companies to make the world suddenly nice and improve democracy
Video examples
The philosophy of...
meaning people who criticized others without having anything worthwhile to say. This usage eventually laid the groundwork for the modern meaning of the word “cynic:" a person who thinks everyone else is acting out of pure self-interest,
Video examples
Why should you read “The...
illustrating how Soviet society bred greed and cynicism despite its ideals. And the matter-of-fact narration deliberately blends the strangeness of the supernatural events with the everyday absurdity of Soviet life.
Video examples
Lobo in Love PIPE Lobo PIPE...
was his big chance a cynical new pan formed in his mind during the breeding season which apparently a lot of his story took place that male's tending that female extremely closely he rarely
Video examples
Prison Victim PIPE National...
evidence to support the charges in some ways it's made me bitter some ways has made me more cynical in some ways it's made me angrier it's definitely wounded and scarred me
Video examples
The history of marriage...
There have been many different things written and said about marriage. From the sweetly inspirational to the hilariously cynical. But what many of them have in common
Video examples
How great leaders...
without you even asking." And the cynical majority said, "We don't believe you. We don't need it. We don't like it. You're scaring us." What if they had said,
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
James Carville
American Lawyer
Some of these people think the universe is five thousand years old, and they say it with a straight face. If somebody had an explanation saying why they thought the earth was five thousand years old, there's only two possible explanations: you're really stupid, or you're really cynical and trying to get really stupid people's votes.
Quote examples
Gilbert Hernandez
American Artist
Reviewers and critics can be overly cynical. If something the least bit sentimental comes up, they'll often start flying off the handle. But I'm like, 'Wait a minute, you've had those times in your life. Everybody has.
Quote examples
Hillary Clinton
American Politician
The worst thing that can happen in a democracy - as well as in an individual's life - is to become cynical about the future and lose hope.
Quote examples
James Comey
American Public Servant
After years of police work, officers often can't help but be influenced by the cynicism they feel.
Quote examples
Andy Dunn
American Businessman
It's easy to be cynical about American politics. It's more important not to be.
Quote examples
Fannie Hurst
American Writer
It takes a clever man to turn cynic and a wise man to be clever enough not to.
Quote examples
George MacDonald Fraser
Scottish Author
I'm rather a cynic, I suppose. I do not believe in the niceness of humanity.
Quote examples
Alicia Silverstone
Actress
As human beings we're so cynical, so uncompassionate.
Quote examples
Lillian Hellman
American Dramatist
Cynicism is an unpleasant way of saying the truth.
Quote examples
Cory Booker
American Politician
My whole life has been about confronting cynicism.
Quote examples
James Carville
American Lawyer
Some of these people think the universe is five thousand years old, and they say it with a straight face. If somebody had an explanation saying why they thought the earth was five thousand years old, there's only two possible explanations: you're really stupid, or you're really cynical and trying to get really stupid people's votes.
Quote examples
Gilbert Hernandez
American Artist
Reviewers and critics can be overly cynical. If something the least bit sentimental comes up, they'll often start flying off the handle. But I'm like, 'Wait a minute, you've had those times in your life. Everybody has.
Quote examples
Hillary Clinton
American Politician
The worst thing that can happen in a democracy - as well as in an individual's life - is to become cynical about the future and lose hope.
Quote examples
James Comey
American Public Servant
After years of police work, officers often can't help but be influenced by the cynicism they feel.
Quote examples
Andy Dunn
American Businessman
It's easy to be cynical about American politics. It's more important not to be.
Quote examples
Fannie Hurst
American Writer
It takes a clever man to turn cynic and a wise man to be clever enough not to.
Quote examples
George MacDonald Fraser
Scottish Author
I'm rather a cynic, I suppose. I do not believe in the niceness of humanity.
Quote examples
Alicia Silverstone
Actress
As human beings we're so cynical, so uncompassionate.
Quote examples
Lillian Hellman
American Dramatist
Cynicism is an unpleasant way of saying the truth.
Quote examples
Cory Booker
American Politician
My whole life has been about confronting cynicism.
Example 1 of 10
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