Cynical — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective /ˈsi-ni-kəl/ cyn·i·cal

Meaning & Definition of Cynical

Cynical (adjective)

  1. having or showing the attitude or temper of a cynic
  2. contemptuously distrustful of human nature and motives
  3. based on or reflecting a belief that human conduct is motivated primarily by self-interest

Cynical (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. 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"

    similar: misanthropic, pessimistic
    related: distrustful, mistrustful, negativist, negativistic, skeptical, suspicious, derisive, mocking, sardonic, scornful, defeatist, fatalistic, negative, ironic, sarcastic, jaded, sophisticated, worldly-wise, hard-bitten, hard-boiled, hardcase, hard-edged, unsentimental
    opposite: uncynical
    near: trustful, trusting, unsuspicious, cheerful, optimistic, positive, positivist, positivistic, rose-colored, ingenuous, innocent, naive, unsophisticated, idealistic, impractical, romantic, maudlin, mushy, saccharine, sappy, sentimental

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Cynical

The most common words with a similar meaning to Cynical:

misanthropic, pessimistic

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Cynical

Words with the opposite meaning of Cynical:

uncynical

Related Words for Cynical

distrustful, mistrustful, negativist, negativistic, skeptical, suspicious, derisive, mocking, sardonic, scornful, defeatist, fatalistic, negative, ironic, sarcastic, jaded, sophisticated, worldly-wise, hard-bitten, hard-boiled, hardcase, hard-edged, unsentimental

Near Antonyms of Cynical

trustful, trusting, unsuspicious, cheerful, optimistic, positive, positivist, positivistic, rose-colored, ingenuous, innocent, naive, unsophisticated, idealistic, impractical, romantic, maudlin, mushy, saccharine, sappy, sentimental

Word Forms of Cynical

Derived words: cynically (adverb)

Origin & Etymology of Cynical

First known use: 1574

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Cynical

Frequently Asked Questions about Cynical

What does "Cynical" mean?

"Cynical" means having or showing the attitude or temper of a cynic. As an adjective, it is defined as: having or showing the attitude or temper of a cynic.

What is another word for "Cynical"?

Other words for "Cynical" include misanthropic and pessimistic. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Cynical" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Cynical"?

There are 25 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Cynical". Common alternatives include misanthropic and pessimistic.

What is the opposite of "Cynical"?

Antonyms of "Cynical" include uncynical. Near antonyms include trustful, trusting, unsuspicious and cheerful.

How do you use "Cynical" in a sentence?

Examples of "Cynical" in a sentence: "so cynical that he can't understand why anyone would volunteer to help out at a homeless shelter".

Is "Cynical" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Cynical" is an adjective.

Is "Cynical" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C2-level word, "Cynical" is typical of Cambridge C2 Proficiency (CPE), IELTS band 8.5–9.0, TOEFL iBT 114–120, PTE Academic 85–90. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Cynical"?

"Cynical" is pronounced /ˈsi-ni-kəl/ and divided into syllables as cyn·i·cal.