Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
cynic
Noun
/ˈsɪnɪk/
Definition
A person who believes that people are motivated purely by self-interest rather than acting for honorable or unselfish reasons.
Examples
- Despite the cynic’s claims about the charity, donations continued to pour in from generous individuals.
- Her cynic attitude often embarrassed her friends, who preferred to see the good in people.
- The film’s lead character was a cynic who doubted the intentions of everyone around him.
Meaning
The term cynic often refers to someone who has a negative view of human behavior and expresses doubt about the sincerity of others’ motives.
Synonyms
- Pessimist
- Skeptic
- Distrustful person
- Doubter
- Misanthrope
