Cynical
/ˈsɪnɪkəl/
adjectiveC1
Definition
Being cynical means you believe people usually act for their own benefit, not because they are kind or honest. A cynical person often doubts or questions the truth or goodness in others’ words or actions. This attitude can make someone appear negative or distrustful.
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See It in Action
Believing that people are motivated by self-interest rather than honesty or kindness
- •She gave a cynical smile when he promised to help, thinking he wanted something in return.
- •His cynical view made him doubt the charity’s true purpose.
- •Many people are cynical about politicians during election time.
Showing distrust or disbelief in sincerity or goodness
- •The cynical tone in his voice suggested he did not believe the apology was real.
- •Critics were cynical about the company’s new environmental campaign.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "cynical" like "doubtful," but stronger and more focused on people’s motives—expecting the worst reasons behind actions
- ✓Picture someone watching a politician speak and thinking, "They only say that to get votes, not because they care"
- ✓It's the feeling when you hear a nice story but think, "There must be a hidden reason or trick"
- ✓Sounds like "SIN-ih-kul" → Imagine someone saying "sin" (bad action) and thinking everyone is doing something wrong secretly
- ✓Remember the character Dr. House from TV shows, who often thinks people lie or hide the truth for selfish reasons
- ✓NOT like "naive" (trusting and innocent)—cynical is the opposite, suspicious and questioning
- ✓NOT like "skeptical" (doubting but open to proof)—cynical expects selfish motives by default
- ✓NOT like "pessimistic" (expecting bad outcomes)—cynical focuses on bad intentions, not just bad results
Try Other Words
- •Skeptical: doubting the truth but open to evidence (Use when you question but do not assume bad motives)
- •Distrustful: not trusting others (Use when focusing on lack of trust without the strong negative expectation)
- •Pessimistic: expecting bad results (Use when focusing on negative outcomes, not motives)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: from Greek "kynikos" meaning "dog-like," referring to a group of ancient philosophers who were blunt and questioned social values
- •Etymology: entered English in the 1600s from Latin and French, originally describing the philosophical attitude of cynics
- •Historical development: from describing a philosophical school to meaning a general attitude of distrust and negativity about human nature
- •Modern usage: describes people who expect selfish or bad motives behind others’ actions, often used in social or political contexts
Reflect & Connect
•Can being cynical sometimes protect you from being tricked, or does it make trusting others harder?
•How can someone balance healthy skepticism with avoiding becoming too cynical?
Fill in the blanks
1.When someone is cynical, they often believe people act ___ because they want something for themselves.
2.A cynical person usually does not trust ___ or honest explanations.
3.Unlike a skeptical person, a cynical person expects ___ motives behind actions.
4.People can become cynical when they experience ___ or repeated dishonesty.
5.The politician’s promises were met with cynical ___ from the public.
6.Being too cynical can make it hard to ___ new ideas or people.
7.When she laughed cynically, it showed she did not believe the ___ apology.