Meaning

5 senses
  1. Of or relating to the belief that human actions are motivated only or primarily by base desires or selfishness.

    цини́чныйciníčnyj

    цині́чнийcyníčnyj

  2. Skeptical of the integrity, sincerity, or motives of others.

    believing the worst of human nature and motives; having a sneering disbelief in e.g. selflessness of others

  3. Bitterly or jadedly distrustful or contemptuous; mocking.

    zynisch

  4. Showing contempt for accepted moral standards by one's actions.

    zynisch

  5. (rare)Like the actions of a snarling dog, especially in reference to facial nerve paralysis.

Examples

56 sentences
  1. How did you get to be so cynical?

    Як ти став таким циніком?

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  2. Why are people always so cynical?

    Чому люди завжди такі цинічні?

    ruПочему люди всегда такие циничные?

    deWarum sind immer alle so zynisch?

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  3. Why are you always so cynical?

    Чому ти завжди така цинічна?

    ruПочему ты всегда такая циничная?

    deWarum bist du immer so zynisch?

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  4. I'm not that cynical.

    Я не настільки цинічний.

    ruЯ не настолько циничен.

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  5. Tom is cynical.

    Том цинік.

    ruТом циничен.

    deTom ist zynisch.

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Translations

9 languages
Українська
By meaning 1
of or relating to the belief that human actions are motivated by base desires or selfishness:
Русский
By meaning 1
of or relating to the belief that human actions are motivated by base desires or selfishness:
Deutsch
By meaning 1
bitterly or jadedly distrustful or contemptuous; mocking:

Origin

Originated 1542, from Classical Latin cynicus (“Cynic/cynic”, adjective) + -al. By surface

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”)).

Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source

Forms

more cynical, most cynical
Comparativemore cynical Lesson
Superlativemost cynical Lesson

regular

Synonyms

2 synonyms
Close in meaning
  • believing the worst of human nature and motives; having a sneering disbelief in e.g. selflessness of others:misanthropicmisanthropical

Word family

10 related words

See also

neighbours in the dictionary
cynical — meaning, examples, forms, synonyms | Krumeto