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- Dictionarycynical/ˈsɪnɪkl/
adjective
- 1. believing that people are motivated purely by self-interest; distrustful of human sincerity or integrity: "he was brutally cynical and hardened to every sob story under the sun"
- 2. concerned only with one's own interests and typically disregarding accepted standards in order to achieve them: "a cynical manipulation of public opinion"
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May 15, 2013 · The examples reported from the NOAD of sentences containing cynical or skeptical are the following: Most residents are cynical about efforts to clean mobsters out of their city. He gave a cynical laugh. Stalin had struck a cynical deal with Hitler. The public were deeply skeptical about some of the proposals.
Jan 25, 2023 · Viewed 462 times. -4. The dictionary definition of cynical is: believing that people are motivated purely by self-interest; distrustful of human sincerity or integrity. However, there is an additional bullet point under this definition that says: contemptuous; mocking. I fail to understand how these two definitions are related.
Irony: Something that you particularly don't expect (for any reason) happens. Sarcasm:Saying one thing, and actually meaning the opposite, in a mean way. Cynicism: Insulting someone in a very painful, rude way. Also, having absolutely no positive feelings towards something (being cynical). However, this is what I am taught now, and it just ...
Oct 27, 2014 · Cynical -sentence usage examples. Antonyms: Credulous,gullible,hopeful,optimistic,trustful,unskeptical,unsuspecting (etc.) He must have been pretty gullible to fall for that old trick. I feel hopeful that we’ll find a suitable house very soon. She is not optimistic about the outcome.
1 Answer. Sorted by: 2. The phrase is used in To Kill a Mockingbird. The witnesses for the state, with the exception of the sheriff of Maycomb County, have presented themselves to you gentlemen, to this court, in the cynical confidence that their testimony would not be doubted, confident that you gentlemen would go along with them on the ...
Apr 6, 2019 · The definition you linked to includes two definitions of cynical, apparently from Collins English Dictionary. And it is true that people are often described as cynical when they are "showing contempt for accepted standards of honesty or morality by one's actions," as in the case of the politician you described.
The first definition refers to a person taking a cynical look on the world (pessimistic lucidity is unconventional). The second refers to a selfish amoral behavior (also, assumed to be non conformist). So, you may be pessimistic because others are not generous. –
Jan 1, 2016 · Upon a quick google search 'hard-boiled' means tough and cynical even though it doesn't say that this is a disapproving term. One of the synonyms of this word is ' hardened ' which means 'very experienced in a particular job or activity and therefore not easily upset by its more unpleasant aspects' which seems like an admirable quality to have for likes of a soldier, militant or an inspector.
Feb 14, 2011 · The definition of the words I can read on the NOAD are: Sarcastic: marked by or given to using irony in order to mock or convey contempt. Sardonic: grimly mocking or cynical. She wrote sarcastic comments on their failures. She's witty and sarcastic. Starkey attempted a sardonic smile. The differences between the words are:
Apr 16, 2017 · "Wry" evolved from a meaning of "to twist". Applied to humor, it refers to humor that is bitterly or disdainfully ironic or amusing; distorted or perverted in meaning; warped, misdirected, or perverse; words that are unsuitable or wrong; scornful and mocking in a humorous way--it covers a lot of territory (see WordReference.com).
