ISEE/SSAT Vocabulary Builder›Words›C›cynical
ISEE/SSAThard
cynical
distrustful of people's motives, believing they act only from self-interest
Synonyms
Antonyms
- trusting
- optimistic
cynical in a sentence
After being lied to twice, he grew cynical about his coworkers' promises.
His cynical remarks about charity suggested he doubted anyone's motives were pure.
Where it comes from
From Greek kynikos "dog-like," name of an ancient philosophical school
Memory hook
CYNIC-AL -- a cynic always assumes the worst about people.
Read it in context
- Where the River Moved History