Definition of cynicism in English:

noun

• 1An inclination to believe that people are motivated purely by self-interest; scepticism.

  ‘public cynicism about politics’

  More example sentences

  • ‘MH apparently is unaware of the depths of his own political cynicism.’
  • ‘Their run to the top of the standings is cause for cynicism.’
  • ‘The incompetence, the lies, the bullying, the cynicism, the cover-ups.’
  • ‘The way the trial was handled has increased cynicism among Malays.’
  • ‘The press, enjoying a freedom also long established in Dutch tradition, denounced the cynicism of the new Directory.’
  • ‘At the same time, there is still a degree of protective cynicism.’
  • ‘Failure to take meaningful account of the opinions of the people you canvass is a sure way to engender cynicism.’
  • ‘Personally however words like ' authentic ' are just to problematic to use without the necessary aura of cynicism.’
  • ‘He has presided over a marked increase in public cynicism about politics without suffering significant damage to his own electoral prospects.’
  • ‘He added to the widespread cynicism felt about Australian politicians.’
  • ‘I share Rahul Verma's cynicism about the coverage of the Behzti furore.’
  • ‘A recurrent thread in the debate over public cynicism is the apparent establishment of "two sets of rules."’
  • ‘I wonder whether wifely cynicism about a husband's mild illness or impermanent injury doesn't have a lot to do with fear.’
  • ‘The level of cynicism which is brought to many anecdotal accounts used in journalism could equally be levelled at official documentation.’
  • ‘If Clemenceau was galvanized by his cynicism, Mandel was paralysed by his.’
  • ‘This administration seems to have a really dangerous and disturbing mix of cynicism and stupidity as their driving motive.’
  • ‘It has contributed to a lowering of investment returns and to public's growing cynicism about pension planning.’
  • ‘Gephardt referred to cynicism, loss of faith in the political system and the decline in voting.’
  • ‘Bill's poll-based views, his `parsing' of the truth, contributed to greater cynicism about politicians.’
  • ‘Leblance also believes that a rise in cynicism may be to blame for lower interest in student journalism.’

  Synonyms

  scepticism, doubt, distrust, mistrust, doubtfulness, suspicion, disbelief, incredulity, unbelief, scoffing

  View synonyms

  1. 1.1An inclination to question whether something will happen or whether it is worthwhile; pessimism.
     ‘cynicism about the future’
     More example sentences

     • ‘Not all Mosteller's Bayesian suspicions, some of which verge on cynicism, have proved well founded.’
     • ‘For The Book Show journalist Rachel Carbonell read Flat Earth News with a healthy dose of cynicism.’
     • ‘He is being driven mad by the all-pervasive cynicism of modern Britain.’
     • ‘Yet Rogers himself retained a healthy cynicism about the artistic merits of his brainchild.’
     • ‘Cynicism about the potential for policy to make a difference is widespread.’
     • ‘But today, the combination of American moralizing at home and cynicism abroad could severely harm relations between Europe and the United States.’
     • ‘The phenomenon which is denounced in culture criticism as cynicism, as cynical mass business, should be a new access to the soul.’
     • ‘Most books with names like this one are inferior works filled with an ersatz cynicism that pales beside the real article.’
     • ‘Cynicism was high in the courtroom, however, and the show went on.’
     • ‘Your admitted cynicism is misplaced.’
     • ‘The cynicism, or boredom or maybe numbing hope that it was all going to be over soon - that we'd see the tyrant of Iraq in a coffin.’
     • ‘They applauded anything that happened on stage; a welcome relief from the normal cynicism of London audiences.’
     • ‘This would provide a sharp contrast to the mindless cynicism too often preached in the schools today.’
     • ‘Jha restores our faith - increasingly frayed by cynicism - in the idealism of youth.’
     • ‘Still, there's no contempt or cynicism in Ryan's attitude here.’
     • ‘Sick of his persona - delicate emotions paired off with caustic cynicism - he creates a bogus doppelganger to hide behind.’
     • ‘Neither change has yet been enacted because political scruples intervened at some stage in the march of cynicism.’
     • ‘While some fat cat cynicism may linger, many are eager to have an inspirational leader that they can admire - and trust.’
     • ‘Considering the level of cynicism of the citizens with our politicians today, do you really believe talented people would want to join any party now?’
     • ‘The cynicism of many claims of cultural relativism can also be seen in the fact that far too often they are for foreign consumption only.’

• 2

  (also Cynicism)

  A school of ancient Greek philosophers, the Cynics.