cynic
noun
a person who believes that only selfishness motivates human actions and who disbelieves in or minimizes selfless acts or disinterested points of view.
cynics
-
pluralof cynic.plural
The grammatical form denoting more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
One senior Tory says "she has actually defied cynics like me" who initially disapproved of her leadership.
From BBC ● Oct. 3, 2026
Turner said in a speech at the launch that the network was meant “to create a positive force in a world where cynics abound.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 6, 2026
Yet at 26, she has weathered countless storms — whether facing incessant body-shaming online, or defending her pop music pivot from cynics in the comments.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 20, 2026
They say it’s better to be lucky than to be smart, and cynics may now wonder which word is a better fit for Bisignano.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 29, 2025
Then he told me that most cynics were once dreamers who became disillusioned.
From "Finding Junie Kim" by Ellen Oh
