cynical
/ˈsɪnɪkl/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈsɪnɪkl/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈsi-ni-kəl/ (ame, mw)
cynical — adjective
- cynicalpositive
- more cynicalcomparative
- most cynicalsuperlative
1. tending to believe the worst about people — that they act only for their own ben
tending to believe the worst about people — that they act only for their own benefit and do not truly care about others.
After three failed campaigns, Obi became cynical about any promise that politicians made.
cynical about [noun/pronoun]
Tanvi's cynical view of tech firms kept her from believing their claims about helping society.
cynical view of [something]
The old librarian gave a cynical laugh when Quan mentioned the honesty of online reviews.
Sumin felt so cynical about volunteering that her friends could not understand her distrust.
- distrustful
less absolute; suggests lack of trust in a specific situation rather than a worldview
- suspicious
implies having doubts about someone's honesty without the general judgment of all people
- jaded
focuses on being tired or bored because of too much experience, which can lead to cynicism
- trusting
willing to believe that others are honest and sincere
- idealistic
believing that people can act for noble, unselfish reasons
文法句型
cynical about + noun/-ing
cynical + noun
用法筆記
Frequently takes a prepositional phrase with about to specify the target of distrust. Subject is usually a person who has had repeated disappointments.
常見錯誤
2. done or said with the deliberate purpose of gaining an advantage for yourself, w
done or said with the deliberate purpose of gaining an advantage for yourself, without caring if other people get hurt or deceived in the process.
The company made a cynical decision to cancel healthcare benefits right before the winter holidays.
cynical decision to + infinitive
Lucía called the politician's visit a cynical attempt to win votes from suffering people.
cynical attempt to + infinitive
The charity spent more on advertising than on helping the poor — that seemed cynical.
The CEO's cynical plan to shut the factory and lower wages angered the whole town.
Kian saw the apology as a cynical move to calm angry customers without real change.
- calculating
emphasizes careful planning for personal gain, often without the ruthless edge
- exploitative
specifically about taking unfair advantage of others' vulnerability
- manipulative
focuses on controlling or influencing others for your own purposes
文法句型
cynical + noun (use / attempt / exploitation / appeal)
it is cynical to + infinitive
用法筆記
This sense is attributive — the adjective nearly always appears before a noun (cynical attempt, cynical ploy, cynical exploitation). The focus is on the action being calculated and ruthless, not on any belief.
常見錯誤
3. deliberately rough or unfair when playing a sport, showing no respect for the op
deliberately rough or unfair when playing a sport, showing no respect for the opponent's safety or the rules of the game.
Théo was sent off for a cynical foul that injured the opposing goalkeeper.
cynical foul
The referee gave a red card for a cynical tackle that nearly broke Lakan's leg.
cynical tackle
A technical foul was called for a cynical push that sent the opponent into the stands.
Near the end, the team committed a cynical handball to stop the other side from scoring.
- unsportsmanlike
broader term covering any behavior that violates fair play
- dirty
informal; describes rough, illegal play with intent to harm
- deliberate
less negative; simply means intentional, not necessarily unfair
文法句型
cynical + noun (foul / tackle / challenge)
用法筆記
Used mainly in football (soccer) and rugby commentary in British English. Describes a deliberate action intended to stop an opponent by any means, often drawing a yellow or red card.