cynicism

[sin-uh-siz-uhm]

noun

1. cynical disposition, character, or belief.

2. a cynical remark.

3. (initial capital letter),  any of the doctrines or practices of the Cynics.

cynicism

¹

/ ˈsɪnɪˌsɪzəm /

noun

1. the attitude or beliefs of a cynic

2. a cynical action, remark, idea, etc

Cynicism

²

/ ˈsɪnɪˌsɪzəm /

noun

1. the doctrines of the Cynics

Other Word Forms

• anticynicism noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of cynicism¹

First recorded in 1665–75; cynic + -ism

Example Sentences

But it’s also easy to notice Farsi’s ingrained cynicism about the state of things, having once been imprisoned as a teenage dissident during the years following her country’s Islamic Revolution, now in exile.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The names alone suggest a level of parody, and, in the first episode, a send-up quality flits in and out of the proceedings, but the show chooses cynicism over satire every time.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

A direct ethical transfusion links them to the Obama cynicism that gave us EVs like the Ford Lightning.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

"Europe is in the shadow of a war," says German Foreign Minister Boris Pistorius, pointing the finger at Russia, which he accuses of "waging it with maximum brutality, cynicism and ruthlessness."

Read more on Barron's

But behold the cynicism of Democrats, who now want to exploit their Tuesday election victories to prolong the dysfunction at the public’s expense.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• bitterness 
• distrust 
• doubt 
• pessimism 
• sarcasm