Finesentence

Cynical Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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cynical

cyn-i-cal

🇺🇸 /ˈsɪnɪkəɫ/ · 🇬🇧 /sˈɪnɪkəl/

Definition

Context #1 | Adjective

attitude towards society

believing that people are motivated purely by self-interest; distrustful of human sincerity or integrity.

Synonyms

distrustful, pessimistic, skeptical.

Examples of usage

  • Her cynical attitude towards politics is evident in her refusal to vote.
  • He has a cynical view of human nature, always assuming the worst in people.
  • The politician's cynical manipulation of the media was exposed during the scandal.

Translations

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Quick facts about “cynical”

Cynical is a 3-syllable adjective (cyn-i-cal). It is pronounced /ˈsɪnɪkəɫ/ in American English and /sˈɪnɪkəl/ in British English. On finesentence.com it has 1 meaning, 3 synonyms, and translations into 21 languages. It ranks #12,582 among the most common English words.

Origin of 'cynical'

The word 'cynical' originated from the Greek word 'kynikos', meaning 'dog-like' or 'cynic'. This term was used to describe the philosophical beliefs of the Cynics, a school of ancient Greek philosophers who believed in living a simple life in accordance with nature. Over time, the word developed a more negative connotation, referring to a distrustful or skeptical attitude towards society and human nature.

See also: cynically, cynicism.

Rhymes

Cynical rhymes with preclinical and rabbinical.

See all rhymes →

Word Frequency Rank

At position #12,582, this word is part of sophisticated English vocabulary. It's useful for academic or professional contexts where precise language is needed.