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.
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
Also, given three of Ireland's six T20s during the home summer of 2025 were lost to the rain, cynics will likely point to weather in western Europe come September as a potential stumbling block too.
From BBC ● Jan. 20, 2026
Pouliot has seen cynics walk into L’Belle-Tividad’s readings or classes and walk away as believers.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 8, 2025
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
Martin had once seen the moon as hopeful, too, but after he was beaten down by cynics the moon was dark for him.
From "Hole in My Life" by Jack Gantos
