cyn|i|cal

cyn|i|cal
cyn|i|cal «SIHN uh kuhl», adjective.
1. doubting the sincerity and goodness of others: »

There are many other people…who are just as cynical as these youngsters about local politicians (Harper's).

2. sneering; sarcastic: »

The boys made several cynical remarks to cover up their disappointment at being left out of the play.

–cyn´i|cal|ly, adverb.
–cyn´i|cal|ness, noun.
Synonym Study 1 Cynical, pessimistic mean doubting and mistrustful. Cynical emphasizes a tendency to doubt the honesty and sincerity of people and their motives for doing things: »

It is difficult to make friends with a person who is cynical about friendship.

Pessimistic emphasizes a disposition to look on the dark side of things and to expect the unpleasant or worst to happen: »

He has a very pessimistic attitude toward the value of this work.


Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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  • cyn´i|cal|ly — cyn|i|cal «SIHN uh kuhl», adjective. 1. doubting the sincerity and goodness of others: »There are many other people…who are just as cynical as these youngsters about local politicians (Harper s). 2. sneering; sarcastic: »The boys made several… …   Useful english dictionary

  • cyn´i|cal|ness — cyn|i|cal «SIHN uh kuhl», adjective. 1. doubting the sincerity and goodness of others: »There are many other people…who are just as cynical as these youngsters about local politicians (Harper s). 2. sneering; sarcastic: »The boys made several… …   Useful english dictionary

  • cyn·i·cal — …   Useful english dictionary

  • cyn — cyn; cyn·a·ra; cyn·e·get·ic; cyn·e·get·ics; cyn·i·cal; cyn·i·cal·ly; cyn·i·cism; cyn·i·poid; cyn·i·poi·dea; cyn·ips; cyn·ism; cyn·o·cephalous; cyn·o·cephalus; cyn·o·cram·ba·ce·ae; cyn·o·cram·be; cyn·o·des·mus; cyn·o·dic·tis; cyn·o·don;… …   English syllables

  • cal — abi·o·log·i·cal; adre·no·cor·ti·cal; aero·bi·o·log·i·cal; aero·chem·i·cal; aero·log·i·cal; aero·med·i·cal; aero·nau·ti·cal; aero·phys·i·cal; aero·tech·ni·cal; aes·thet·i·cal·ly; afo·cal; ag·a·tho·kak·o·log·i·cal; ag·nat·i·cal·ly;… …   English syllables

  • cynical — cyn·i·cal …   English syllables

  • cynically — cyn·i·cal·ly …   English syllables

  • cynical — cyn•i•cal [[t]ˈsɪn ɪ kəl[/t]] adj. 1) distrusting or disparaging the motives or sincerity of others 2) showing contempt for accepted standards of honesty or morality, esp. by actions that exploit the scruples of others 3) bitterly or sneeringly… …   From formal English to slang

  • cynical — cyn|i|cal [ sınıkl ] adjective * 1. ) someone who is cynical believes that people care only about themselves and are not sincere or honest 2. ) someone who is cynical expects things not to be successful or useful: cynical about: I know that some… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • cynical — cyn|i|cal [ˈsınıkəl] adj 1.) unwilling to believe that people have good, honest, or sincere reasons for doing something ▪ a cynical view of human nature cynical about ▪ The public is cynical about election promises. 2.) not caring that something… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

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