cynical, misanthropic, pessimistic mean deeply distrustful. cynical implies having a sneering disbelief in sincerity or integrity.

CYNICAL definition: distrusting or disparaging the motives of others; like or characteristic of a cynic. See examples of cynical used in a sentence.

CYNICAL definition: 1. believing that people are only interested in themselves and are not sincere: 2. used to say…. Learn more.

Believing or showing the belief that people are motivated chiefly by base or selfish concerns; skeptical of the motives of others: a cynical dismissal of the politician's promise to reform the campaign finance …

Definition of cynical adjective in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

If you are cynical about something, you do not believe that it can be successful or that the people involved are honest.

Jul 15, 2025 · Skeptical of the integrity, sincerity, or motives of others. He seldom talked, and when he did, it was usually to make some cynical remark-for instance, he would say that God had given him a …

A cynical person has a bleak outlook about others, always imagining that people are ruled by their worst instincts. H.L. Mencken was famous for saying cynical things like, "Nobody ever went broke …

Cynical definition: Believing or showing the belief that people are motivated chiefly by base or selfish concerns; skeptical of the motives of others.

CYNICAL meaning: 1 : believing that people are generally selfish and dishonest often + about; 2 : selfish and dishonest in a way that shows no concern about treating other people fairly