Word meaning
cynical
adjective · SIN-ih-kul
What does cynical mean?
Cynical means believing that people are motivated purely by self-interest; distrustful.
Cynical in a sentence
“Years in politics had made him cynical about promises.”
Synonyms for cynical
- skeptical
- distrustful
- jaded
Where does cynical come from?
From Greek kynikos, "dog-like," a nickname for an ancient school of philosophers.
How to remember cynical
- Say it out loud a few times: SIN-ih-kul.
- Write one sentence of your own using cynical, about something that happened to you today.
- Quiz yourself tomorrow, in three days, and next week. Spaced reviews are what make new words stick.
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