Word
cynical
Phoneticscyn·i·cal, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈsɪnɪkəɫ/
UK/sˈɪnɪkəl/
Definitions
01distrusting motives
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. believing that people are only interested in themselves and are not sincere.
adj. believing that human actions are motivated primarily by self-interest; skeptical of the integrity or sincerity of others.
日本語:シニカル※
“He has a cynical view of politics and thinks all politicians are liars.”
“Many voters have become cynical about the electoral process, believing that corporate interests exert more influence than the public will.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
02Greek philosophy
C2 · Proficiency Academic · Formal
adj. relating to an ancient group of Greek thinkers called the Cynics.
adj. relating to the Cynics, a school of Ancient Greek philosophy that prioritised virtue and self-control over social conventions.
“The professor explained the Cynical school of thought and its influence on later philosophers.”
“Cynical philosophy in its original form was less about modern pessimism and more about a radical rejection of material wealth and social status.”
03medical/facial
C2 · Proficiency Medicine Archaic · Technical
adj. a rare word for a facial expression that looks like a snarling dog.
adj. resembling the facial expression of a snarling dog, specifically in the context of facial nerve paralysis.
“The old medical textbook described the patient's expression as a cynical spasm.”
“The term 'cynic spasm' was historically used to describe the involuntary contraction of facial muscles that mimics a canine snarl.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “cynical” in context.
Verb
01. become cynical
“After years of working in politics, she had become cynical about the possibility of real change.”
verb + adj
02. sound cynical
“I don't want to sound cynical, but I doubt their motives are purely charitable.”
verb + adj
Adjective
03. cynical about the future
“Many young people are increasingly cynical about the future of the planet.”
adj + prep
04. cynical disregard
“The company showed a cynical disregard for the safety of its employees.”
adj + noun
05. cynical ploy
“The tax cut was dismissed by the opposition as a cynical ploy to win votes.”
adj + noun
06. deeply cynical
“The public has grown deeply cynical of the promises made during election campaigns.”
adv + adj
Adverb
07. thoroughly cynical
“His thoroughly cynical attitude made it difficult for him to form lasting friendships.”
adv + adj
Usage
Often followed by the preposition 'about' when referring to specific topics or situations.
Real-World Examples
“It is pointless trying to battle this narrative with statistics, because it is cynical and strategic rather than a mistaken point of view, authentically held.” “Cody Dahler, a comedian who posts sweary political explainers to his two million followers, warns voters will become cynical if they sense politicians are just using social media simply "as a comms tool".” “Surprisingly, they have found that extremely cynical dispositions do little to protect people from lies and scams, but also have the added drawback of inhibiting the cynics' social lives.” “Sentiment around the tech industry has morphed over the last 12 years from naïve to cautiously optimistic to skeptically pessimistic to cynical to, at times, downright hostile.” Etymology
From Cynic + -al.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/cynical
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0