Cynical
adjective /ˈsɪnɪkəl/ — Distrustful of human goodness — suspecting that self-interest drives most things.
Definition
Believing that people are motivated purely by self-interest and that professed ideals or good intentions are largely insincere.
Beyond the definition
Cynicism is a kind of exhausted idealism. Most cynics were once believers who got hurt. The cynical view carries the scar of expecting better and being proven wrong enough times.
Origin & history
From Greek kynikos — dog-like (from kyon, dog). The ancient Cynics, followers of Diogenes, rejected social conventions and lived simply, often rudely — barking at hypocrisy. The dog metaphor stuck.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
She was too cynical to believe the apology was genuine — she'd heard it too many times before.
His cynical assessment proved accurate: the charity was more about appearances than outcomes.
Cynical humor is often the sharpest — it sees clearly, even when what it sees is unflattering.
How to use it
This entry uses an adjective. Follow the examples for the nouns it describes and its position in the sentence.
Choose “Cynical” when the meaning fits your context: Believing that people are motivated purely by self-interest and that professed ideals or good intentions are largely insincere.
Synonyms
disillusioned, skeptical, sardonic, jaded, pessimistic, mistrustful
Antonyms
idealistic, trusting, naive, credulous
Related words
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Colleagues Singling Out Coworker
Coworkers point and gesture toward one colleague while appearing to unfairly blame them for a project failure, illustrating a lack of shared responsibility.
Cynicism involves the belief that people are motivated only by self-interest and that ideals are insincere. The coworkers pointing and blaming their colleague suggest they are acting purely to protect themselves, demonstrating the bitter, self-interested behavior typical of a cynical, skeptical view of human motivation and collective good intent.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Cynical" mean?
Cynical is adjective meaning: Distrustful of human goodness — suspecting that self-interest drives most things.. Believing that people are motivated purely by self-interest and that professed ideals or good intentions are largely insincere.
Where does the word "Cynical" come from?
From Greek kynikos — dog-like (from kyon, dog). The ancient Cynics, followers of Diogenes, rejected social conventions and lived simply, often rudely — barking at hypocrisy. The dog metaphor stuck.