CYNICAL: Synonyms and Related Words. What is Another Word for CYNICAL?

Need another word that means the same as “cynical”? Find 21 synonyms and 30 related words for “cynical” in this overview.

The synonyms of “Cynical” are: misanthropic, misanthropical, bitter, resentful, soured, distorted, disenchanted, disillusioned, disappointed, pessimistic, sceptical, distrustful, suspicious, doubtful, disbelieving, unbelieving, scoffing, doubting, incredulous, mocking, satirical

Cynical as an Adjective

Definitions of "Cynical" as an adjective

According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, “cynical” as an adjective can have the following definitions:

• Believing that people are motivated purely by self-interest; distrustful of human sincerity or integrity.
• Contemptuous; mocking.
• Believing the worst of human nature and motives; having a sneering disbelief in e.g. selflessness of others.
• Doubtful as to whether something will happen or whether it is worthwhile.
• Concerned only with one's own interests and typically disregarding accepted standards in order to achieve them.

Synonyms of "Cynical" as an adjective (21 Words)

bitter	Causing a sharp and acrid taste experience. Bitter enemies.
disappointed	Sad or displeased because someone or something has failed to fulfil one’s hopes or expectations. The rising was a revolution of disappointed hopes.
disbelieving	Denying or questioning the tenets of especially a religion. The disbelieving look in her eyes.
disenchanted	Disappointed by someone or something previously respected or admired; disillusioned. He became disenchanted with his erstwhile ally.
disillusioned	Freed from illusion. The minority groups were completely disillusioned with the party.
distorted	Having an intended meaning altered or misrepresented. Distorted guitars.
distrustful	Feeling or showing distrust of someone or something. My experience in other fields of law has made me distrustful of rules of thumb generally.
doubtful	Feeling uncertain about something. It is doubtful whether these schemes have any lasting effect.
doubting	Expressing or feeling uncertainty or lack of conviction; sceptical. People look at it through doubting eyes.
incredulous	Not disposed or willing to believe; unbelieving. An incredulous gasp.
misanthropic	Believing the worst of human nature and motives; having a sneering disbelief in e.g. selflessness of others. A misanthropic drunken loner.
misanthropical	Believing the worst of human nature and motives; having a sneering disbelief in e.g. selflessness of others.
mocking	Playfully vexing (especially by ridicule)- Lawrence Durrell. He got jeers and mocking laughter as he addressed the marchers.
pessimistic	Tending to see the worst aspect of things or believe that the worst will happen. He was pessimistic about the prospects.
resentful	Feeling or expressing bitterness or indignation at having been treated unfairly. Resentful at the way he was treated.
satirical	Sarcastic, critical, and mocking another’s weaknesses. A New York based satirical magazine.
sceptical	Denying or questioning the tenets of especially a religion. The public were deeply sceptical about some of the proposals.
scoffing	Contemptuously ridiculing or mocking someone or something. A scoffing cabin crew tells her there s no shower on the plane.
soured	Inaccurate in pitch. Serve with guacamole and soured cream.
suspicious	Having or showing a cautious distrust of someone or something. Police were called when staff became suspicious.
unbelieving	Rejecting any belief in gods. They were to preach to the unbelieving people.

Usage Examples of "Cynical" as an adjective

• He gave a cynical laugh.
• He was brutally cynical and hardened to every sob story under the sun.
• Most residents are cynical about efforts to clean mobsters out of their city.
• A cynical manipulation of public opinion.
• Her cynical attitude.

Associations of "Cynical" (30 Words)

agnostic	Of or pertaining to an agnostic or agnosticism. Many common file formats JPEG MP3 etc are platform agnostic.
contemptuous	Showing contempt; scornful. She was intolerant and contemptuous of the majority of the human race.
disbelief	Lack of faith. I ll burn in hell for disbelief.
doubtful	Feeling uncertain about something. It is doubtful whether these schemes have any lasting effect.
dubious	Hesitating or doubting. Timeshare has been brought into disrepute by dubious sales methods.
freethinker	A person who rejects religion.
incredulity	The state of being unwilling or unable to believe something. He stared down the street in incredulity.
incredulous	Not disposed or willing to believe; unbelieving. An incredulous gasp.
leery	Cautious or wary due to realistic suspicions. A city leery of gang violence.
misanthrope	Someone who dislikes people in general. Scrooge wasn t the mean spirited misanthrope most of us believe him to be.
misanthropic	Believing the worst of human nature and motives; having a sneering disbelief in e.g. selflessness of others. A misanthropic drunken loner.
misanthropy	Hatred of mankind. The streak of misanthropy in his nature.
negative	A negative photographic image made on film or specially prepared glass from which positive prints may be made. The HIV test was negative.
nihilism	Complete denial of all established authority and institutions.
pessimism	The feeling that things will turn out badly. The dispute cast an air of deep pessimism over the future of the peace talks.
pessimist	A person who believes that this world is as bad as it could be or that evil will ultimately prevail over good. The pessimists point to ways in which life has deteriorated.
questionable	Able to be refuted. A questionable reputation.
sarcastic	Expressing or expressive of ridicule that wounds. I think they re being sarcastic.
sardonic	Disdainfully or ironically humorous; scornful and mocking. Starkey attempted a sardonic smile.
satirical	Containing or using satire. A New York based satirical magazine.
sceptic	A person inclined to question or doubt accepted opinions.
sceptical	Relating to the theory that certain knowledge is impossible. The public were deeply sceptical about some of the proposals.
scornful	Expressing extreme contempt. Scornful laughter.
skeptic	Someone who habitually doubts accepted beliefs.
skeptical	Marked by or given to doubt. A skeptical approach to the nature of miracles.
skepticism	Doubt about the truth of something.
sneering	Contemptuous or mocking. He made a sneering comment about their closeness.
surprise	Cause to be surprised. Surprise major.
suspicious	Having the belief or impression that someone is involved in an illegal or dishonest activity. She gave him a suspicious look.
uncertainty	The state of being unsure of something. The uncertainty of the outcome.