## 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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