Cynical

Pronunciation: /ˈsɪnɪkəl/

Definitions of cynical

adjective Cynical is an adjective that describes a person who believes that people are motivated purely by self-interest rather than acting for honorable or unselfish reasons.

Example Sentences

A1 She has a cynical view of the world, believing everyone is out to get her.

A2 After being let down so many times, he became cynical about finding true love.

B1 The politician's cynical promises failed to convince the voters.

B2 Despite his cynical attitude, he still managed to find moments of joy in life.

C1 Her cynical nature often led her to question the motives of those around her.

C2 The author's cynical portrayal of society in his latest novel has sparked controversy.

Examples of cynical in a Sentence

formal The professor had a cynical view of human nature, believing people were inherently selfish.

informal She always has a cynical attitude towards new ideas, thinking they will never work.

slang I can't stand his cynical remarks about everything, it's so annoying.

figurative His cynical heart had been hardened by years of disappointment and betrayal.

Grammatical Forms of cynical

• past tense: cynicized
• plural: cynics
• comparative: more cynical
• superlative: most cynical
• present tense: cynicizes
• future tense: will cynicize
• perfect tense: have cynicized
• continuous tense: is cynicizing
• singular: cynic
• positive degree: cynical
• infinitive: to cynicize
• gerund: cynicizing
• participle: cynicized

Origin and Evolution of cynical

First Known Use: 1542 year

Language of Origin: Greek

Story behind the word: The word 'cynical' originated from the ancient Greek word 'kynikos', which means 'dog-like' or 'of the Cynics', referring to a philosophical group who believed in living a simple life in accordance with nature.

Evolution of the word: Over time, the word 'cynical' has evolved to describe someone who is distrustful of human sincerity or integrity, often exhibiting a contemptuous attitude towards societal norms and values.