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cynical

/ˈsɪnɪkəl/
Meanings
  • adjective

    Having a skeptical and pessimistic attitude, distrusting the integrity or motivations of others.

    - "His cynical view of human nature made it difficult for him to trust others."
    - "Despite her cynical attitude, she managed to find joy in simple things."
Pronunciation
  1. /ˈsɪnɪkəl/



    Source: "https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2650824"
Rhymes
Words rhyming with cynical
hypocritical , critical , pessimistic , sympathetic
Variants
List of all variants of cynical that leads to same result
cynical , cynically
Forms
Different forms of the word (e.g., verb conjugations, plural forms, comparative/superlative forms for adjectives).

cynically, cynicism, cynic, cynics

Etymology
origin and the way in which meanings have changed throughout history.

Derived from the Greek word 'kynikos', meaning 'dog-like' or 'dog-headed'. Originally used to describe the Cynics, an ancient Greek philosophical school that rejected social norms and lived in poverty.

Trivia
Any details, considerations, events or pieces of information regarding the word

  1. The term 'cynical' was first used in English in the late 16th century.

  2. In psychology, cynical hostility is a personality trait characterized by a generalized distrust of others and a tendency to interpret their actions as hostile.

  3. The term 'cynic' is also used as a noun to refer to someone who holds cynical views or expresses cynical attitudes.

Related Concepts
informations on related concepts or terms closely associated with the word. Discuss semantic fields or domains that the word belongs to

  1. Skepticism: A philosophical stance that emphasizes doubt and questioning, often applied to beliefs or claims that are not based on empirical evidence.

  2. Pessimism: A philosophical attitude that emphasizes the negative aspects of life and the belief that suffering and pain are inevitable.

Quotes
Quotes by authors and personalities

  1. … was quiet spoken, but he had a "cynical" arch to his brows, as though he were repressing an urge to sneer.

    - Joseph Wambaugh,{it}The Blooding{/it},1989

  2. … if more and more people out there are willing to kill themselves in order to kill us, we've got to give the poor and "cynical" of the world something positive to believe in.

    - Robert Reich,{it}Prospect{/it},February 2003

  3. It was fear of the Other, the poor, the dying—or to evoke a word with biblical authority—the pestilential. And so I could no longer be "cynical" about her motives.

    - Bharati Mukherjee,{it}Time{/it},14 June 1999

  4. When "Roots" premiered on the ABC network in 1977, my generation of black academics and activists was "cynical" and outraged. We felt the horrors of slavery were rendered flat and lifeless by the miniseries …

    - Houston A. Baker, Jr.,{it}Vibe{/it},February 2002
Culture
Any cultural, historical, or symbolic significance of the word. Explore how the word has been used in literature, art, music, or other forms of expression.

In literature, the term 'cynical' has been used to describe characters who hold negative views of the world and human nature. In art, cynicism can be expressed through satire and irony. In music, cynical lyrics often reflect a sense of disillusionment or sarcasm.

How to Memorize "cynical"

  1. visualize

    - Imagine a person with a scowl on their face, crossed arms, and a distrustful expression. This person represents the concept of cynical.

  2. associate

    - Associate the word 'cynical' with the idea of a negative or pessimistic outlook on life.

  3. mnemonics

    - Use the acronym CYNIC to remember the definition of cynical: 'C' for 'Cynics' (ancient Greek philosophical school), 'Y' for 'Yielding negative expectations', 'N' for 'Negative attitude', 'I' for 'Incredulous' (distrustful), 'C' for 'Cynic' (the person).

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