cynical

UK: /ˈsɪnɪk^əl/ US: (sin′i kəl)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

cyn•i•cal  (sin′i kəl), adj. 

1. like or characteristic of a cynic;
   distrusting or disparaging the motives of others.
2. showing contempt for accepted standards of honesty or morality by one's actions, esp. by actions that exploit the scruples of others.
3. bitterly or sneeringly distrustful, contemptuous, or pessimistic.
4. Philosophy (cap.) cynic (def. 5).

• cynic + -al¹ 1580–90

cyn′i•cal•ly, adv. 
cyn′i•cal•ness, n. 
Synonyms

• 1, 3. Cynical, pessimistic, sarcastic, satirical imply holding a low opinion of humanity.
  Cynical suggests a disbelief in the sincerity of human motives:
  cynical about honesty.
  Pessimistic implies a more or less habitual disposition to look on the dark side of things, and to believe that the worst will happen:
  pessimistic as to the future.
  Sarcastic refers to sneering or making cutting jibes:
  sarcastic about a profession of faith.
  Satirical suggests expressing scorn or ridicule by saying the opposite of what one means:
  a satirical attack on his political promises.

Antonyms

• 1, 3. optimistic.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

cynical / ˈsɪnɪk^əl/ adjective

1. distrustful or contemptuous of virtue, esp selflessness in others; believing the worst of others, esp that all acts are selfish
2. sarcastic; mocking
3. showing contempt for accepted standards of behaviour, esp of honesty or morality

ˈcynically adverb

ˈcynicalness noun

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

cyn•ic /ˈsɪnɪk/   n. [countable]

1. a person who believes that only selfishness is the cause of all human actions:
   a cynic who never understood anyone's charity toward another.
2. a person who shows or expresses a bitterly negative attitude, as by making hateful remarks about others.

cyn•i•cal, adj. 
cyn•i•cism /ˈsɪnɪˌsɪzəm/  n. [uncountable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

cyn•ic  (sin′ik), n. 

1. a person who believes that only selfishness motivates human actions and who disbelieves in or minimizes selfless acts or disinterested points of view.
2. Philosophy (cap.) one of a sect of Greek philosophers, 4th century b.c., who advocated the doctrines that virtue is the only good, that the essence of virtue is self-control, and that surrender to any external influence is beneath human dignity.
3. a person who shows or expresses a bitterly or sneeringly cynical attitude.

adj. 

4. cynical.
5. Philosophy (cap.) Also, Cynical. of or pertaining to the Cynics or their doctrines.
6. Medicine resembling the actions of a snarling dog.

• Greek Kynikós Cynic, literally, doglike, currish, equivalent. to kyn- (stem of kýōn) dog + -ikos - ic
• Latin Cynicus
• 1540–50

Synonyms

• 1, 3. skeptic, pessimist, misanthrope.