cynicism

C1 Topic:Abstract Ideas

US /ˈsɪnɪˌsɪzəm/ UK /ˈsɪn.ɪˌsɪzəm/ See IPA manual

noun name Freq #24649

Meanings

1

noun
A distrustful attitude that assumes people act only out of selfishness.

Years of broken promises had filled her with cynicism about politics.
2

noun
In ancient Greece, a school of philosophy that valued virtue and self-control above wealth and pleasure.

Cynicism taught that a simple life close to nature was the path to happiness.

Thesaurus

Word family

Forms cynicisms

Related forms cynic cynical cynically

Etymology

From Cynicism, cynic + -ism; compare cynism.

Topics

Abstract Ideas Word Formation & Derivatives

# cynicism

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C1
**Part of speech:** noun, name
**IPA (US):** ˈsɪnɪˌsɪzəm
**IPA (UK):** ˈsɪn.ɪˌsɪzəm
**Frequency rank:** 24649

## Meanings
1. A distrustful attitude that assumes people act only out of selfishness.
2. In ancient Greece, a school of philosophy that valued virtue and self-control above wealth and pleasure.

## Examples
- Years of broken promises had filled her with cynicism about politics.
- Cynicism taught that a simple life close to nature was the path to happiness.

## Related Forms
- cynic
- cynical
- cynically

## Etymology
From Cynicism, cynic + -ism; compare cynism.

## AI Etymology
Cynicism is from Cynicism, cynic + -ism; compare cynism. In present-day use, it can mean a distrustful attitude that assumes people act only out of selfishness, or in ancient Greece, a school of philosophy that valued virtue and self-control above wealth and pleasure. Related vocabulary includes cynic, cynical, and cynically.

## Topics
- Abstract Ideas
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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cynicism

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