Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
cynic
noun
/ˈsɪn.ɪk/
Definition
A person who believes that people are motivated purely by self-interest rather than acting for honorable or unselfish reasons.
Examples
- He had become a cynic after years of disappointment in the political system.
- Her cynic nature often led her to question the good intentions of even her closest friends.
- The movie portrayed the protagonist as a cynic who had lost faith in humanity.
Meaning
Cynics tend to be skeptical of the motives of others and often express doubt about the sincerity of people’s actions and words.
Synonyms
- skeptic
- pessimist
- misanthrope
- doubter
