cynical

C1 Topic:Describing People

US /ˈsɪnɪkəl/ See IPA manual

Freq #10281

Meanings

1

adj
Believing that people act only out of selfishness and expecting the worst of them.

He has a cynical view of politicians and trusts none of them.
2

adj
Willing to do unfair or dishonest things while ignoring accepted moral standards.

It was a cynical attempt to win votes by making promises they would never keep.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · believing that people act... misanthropic

Word family

Derived forms cynicalitycynicallycynicalnessnoncynicalsemicynicalsupercynicaluncynical

Etymology

Originated 1542, from Classical Latin cynicus (“Cynic/cynic”, adjective) + -al. By surface analysis, cynic + -al. In reference to dogs, with allusion to the ultimate etymology (Ancient Greek κυνικός (kunikós, “doglike”)).

κυνικός Ancient Greek

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing People Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# cynical

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C1
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /ˈsɪnɪkəl/
**Frequency rank:** 10281

## Meanings
1. Believing that people act only out of selfishness and expecting the worst of them.
2. Willing to do unfair or dishonest things while ignoring accepted moral standards.

## Examples
- He has a cynical view of politicians and trusts none of them.
- It was a cynical attempt to win votes by making promises they would never keep.

## Derived Forms
- cynicality
- cynically
- cynicalness
- noncynical
- semicynical
- supercynical
- uncynical

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: κυνικός

## Etymology
Originated 1542, from Classical Latin cynicus (“Cynic/cynic”, adjective) + -al. By surface analysis, cynic + -al. In reference to dogs, with allusion to the ultimate etymology (Ancient Greek κυνικός (kunikós, “doglike”)).

## AI Etymology
Cynical is traced through originated 1542, from Classical Latin cynicus (“Cynic/cynic”, adjective) + -al. By surface analysis, cynic + -al. In reference to dogs, with allusion to the ultimate etymology (Ancient Greek κυνικός (kunikós, “doglike”)). In present-day use, it can mean believing that people act only out of selfishness and expecting the worst of them, or willing to do unfair or dishonest things while ignoring accepted moral standards. Derived formations include cynicality, cynically, cynicalness, noncynical, and semicynical.

## Topics
- Describing People
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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