as in misanthrope
a person who distrusts other people and believes that everything is done for selfish reasons
a cynic who believes that nobody does a good deed without expecting something in return
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of cynic
As the two moved through the scenes like a pair of tragic jesters, delighting the wide-eyed and annoying the cynics.
—
Elise Taylor, Vogue, 16 Jan. 2025
Thus, the Rock Hall is surely more excited at the prospect of inducting current megastars like Beyoncé, Taylor Swift and Lady Gaga than appeasing its cynics.
—Troy Smith, Axios, 14 Jan. 2025
Other cynics tend to follow suit, sitting out elections and social movements more often than non-cynics.
—Jamil Zaki, TIME, 3 Sep. 2024
In the verses, Bradley Cooper and Gaga’s lyrics and vocal lines are mirrored — two world-weary cynics serenading each other.
—Kristen S. Hé, Vulture, 25 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for cynic
Elise Taylor, Vogue, 16 Jan. 2025
Thus, the Rock Hall is surely more excited at the prospect of inducting current megastars like Beyoncé, Taylor Swift and Lady Gaga than appeasing its cynics.
—Troy Smith, Axios, 14 Jan. 2025
Other cynics tend to follow suit, sitting out elections and social movements more often than non-cynics.
—Jamil Zaki, TIME, 3 Sep. 2024
In the verses, Bradley Cooper and Gaga’s lyrics and vocal lines are mirrored — two world-weary cynics serenading each other.
—Kristen S. Hé, Vulture, 25 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for cynic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cynic
Noun
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Edward is a misanthrope and a scold (The Imitation Game).—
Graham Hillard,
Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government,
21 Feb. 2025
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In the face of international law enforcement pressure, dozens of prosecutions, and worldwide disrepute, the network of young sadists, misanthropes, child predators, and extortionists known as Com and 764 has not shrunk away into obscurity.—
Ali Winston,
WIRED,
12 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Season 7’s sleek, six-episode lineup is drawing some of its best reviews to date, with critics praising the emotional complexity, tonal range, and sharp storytelling.—
Clayton Davis,
Variety,
10 Apr. 2025
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Professors of cultural studies, or history, or the arts, have long seen themselves as critics of institutions, including the universities that employ them.—
Ian Bogost,
The Atlantic,
30 Mar. 2025
Noun
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In another survey, optimists were 40% more likely to get promoted over the next year, six times more likely to be highly engaged at work and five times less likely to burn out than pessimists.—
Caroline Castrillon,
Forbes.com,
6 Apr. 2025
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The power basketball conferences have dominated, and because power means football, and football means money, specifically more NIL money to use as tokens for players to use the NCAA transfer portal, pessimists see the mid-majors such as San Diego State on life support.—
Nick Canepa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
5 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Nitpicking and naysayers may have some slight doubt and Aberg has lost strokes Around the Green in three of his last four starts and Putting in two of his last four tournaments.—
Jay Ginsbach,
Forbes.com,
4 Apr. 2025
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Everything had to go perfectly the next two days, all while TV news camera crews on boats and naysayers on land watched on.—
Amanda Rosa,
Miami Herald,
21 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Thanks to months of groundwork by Sheinbaum and her economic team, Mexico emerged with preferential treatment—confounding skeptics and earning grudging respect from the famously unpredictable U.S. president.—
John W. Dean,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Apr. 2025
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Unfortunately for scientists or academics who wish to sway skeptics based on facts, facts aren’t always convincing.—
Allie Volpe,
Vox,
3 Apr. 2025
Video
The History of 'Cynic'
How an ancient philosophical movement devoted to the pursuit of virtue came to describe eye-rolling criticism.
Cite this Entry
“Cynic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cynic. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.
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