Definition of Cynical

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Cynical

Having the qualities of a surly dog; snarling; captious; currish.

Pertaining to the Dog Star; as, the cynic, or Sothic, year; cynic cycle.

Belonging to the sect of philosophers called cynics; having the qualities of a cynic; pertaining to, or resembling, the doctrines of the cynics.

Given to sneering at rectitude and the conduct of life by moral principles; disbelieving in the reality of any human purposes which are not suggested or directed by self-interest or self-indulgence; as, a cynical man who scoffs at pretensions of integrity; characterized by such opinions; as, cynical views of human nature.

Related Definitions:

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Cynical Quotations

Inside every cynical person, there is a disappointed idealist.
George Carlin

Watch what people are cynical about, and one can often discover what they lack.
George S. Patton

I am neither bitter nor cynical but I do wish there was less immaturity in political thinking.
Franklin D. Roosevelt

Cynical realism is the intelligent man's best excuse for doing nothing in an intolerable situation.
Aldous Huxley

I reject the cynical view that politics is a dirty business.
Richard M. Nixon

Men of integrity, by their very existence, rekindle the belief that as a people we can live above the level of moral squalor. We need that belief; a cynical community is a corrupt community.
John W. Gardner

It's not that the Irish are cynical. It's rather that they have a wonderful lack of respect for everything and everybody.
Brendan Behan

No matter how cynical you become, it's never enough to keep up.
Lily Tomlin

If we listened to our intellect, we'd never have a love affair. We'd never have a friendship. We'd never go into business, because we'd be cynical. Well, that's nonsense. You've got to jump off cliffs all the time and build your wings on the way down.
Ray Bradbury

As a result, I've been portrayed as a cynical barbarian preying on the very clients I was charged to defend.
Jack Abramoff

Cynical Translations

cynical in Afrikaans is sinies
cynical in Dutch is cynisch
cynical in French is cynique
cynical in German is zynisch
cynical in Hungarian is cinikus
cynical in Norwegian is kynisk
cynical in Swedish is cynisk

Quotes