Cynicism is
an attitude characterized by a general distrust of others’ motives
. … It can manifest itself as a result of frustration, disillusionment, and distrust perceived as owing to organizations, authorities, and other aspects of society.
Does cynical mean selfish?
The meaning of cynical is:
Believing that only selfishness motivates human actions
; not believing in disinterested points of view; feeling uncertain if something will happen or it is worth the effort spent. Showing contempt for accepted standards of honesty or morality by one’s actions. Pessimistic.
What is the real meaning of cynicism?
Cynicism is
an attitude characterized by a general distrust of others’ motives
. … It can manifest itself as a result of frustration, disillusionment, and distrust perceived as owing to organizations, authorities, and other aspects of society.
What is an example of cynical?
The definition of cynical is having a belief that people only do things to serve their own needs. An example of cynical is
someone who believes another only gave to charity to get a date with the person asking for the donation
. Sarcastic, sneering, etc. … A cynical view of the average voter’s intelligence.
What is the best definition of cynicism?
1 :
believing that people are generally selfish and dishonest Cynical people say there is no such thing as true love
. … 2 : selfish and dishonest in a way that shows no concern about treating other people fairly Some people regard the governor’s visit to the hospital as a cynical attempt to win votes.
What is a cynical person like?
adjective.
distrusting or disparaging the motives of others
; like or characteristic of a cynic. showing contempt for accepted standards of honesty or morality by one’s actions, especially by actions that exploit the scruples of others. bitterly or sneeringly distrustful, contemptuous, or pessimistic.
What is the opposite of cynical?
Cynical -sentence usage examples. Antonyms:
Credulous
,gullible,hopeful,optimistic,trustful,unskeptical,unsuspecting (etc.)
What is the difference between skeptic and cynic?
Let’s define the terms. According to the Oxford Dictionary:
Skeptic
: A person inclined to question or doubt all accepted opinions. … Cynic: A person who believes that people are motivated purely by self-interest rather than acting for honorable reasons.
What’s the difference between a pessimist and a cynic?
Pessimists have a lack of hope for the future
(though I don’t know if that is entirely unwarranted these days). Cynics believe that people are motivated by their own self-interests, and often distrustful of others’ sincerity.
What do you call a cynical person?
The words
misanthropic and pessimistic
are common synonyms of cynical. While all three words mean “deeply distrustful,” cynical implies having a sneering disbelief in sincerity or integrity. cynical about politicians’ motives.
How do you use cynical?
- He was cynical about politicians’ promises on taxes. …
- I’m cynical enough to believe this is deliberate. …
- On the whole, his moral attitude is cynical , and he is inclined to regard self-interest as the best criterion. …
- You don’t have a cynical bone in your body. …
- They were cynical about politics.
How do I stop being cynical?
- Admit to yourself that you are cynical. Once you acknowledge this, it will be easier to work on changing your attitude. …
- Embrace positivity. …
- Practice gratitude. …
- Breathe. …
- Be mindful. …
- Be playful, even for just five minutes every day. …
- Limit your news consumption. …
- Reveal your true self.
What causes a person to be cynical?
Cynicism is part of a defensive posture we take to protect ourselves. It’s typically triggered
when we feel hurt by or angry at something
, and instead of dealing with those emotions directly, we allow them to fester and skew our outlook.
What is the characteristics of a cynic?
Cynicism Today
Today, cynicism refers to
doubt or disbelief in the professed motives, sincerity, and goodness of others
, and, by extension, in social and ethical norms and values. This attitude is often accompanied by mistrust, scorn, and pessimism about others and humanity as a whole.
Is skeptic good or bad?
No, being
skeptical is not a bad thing
, and a healthy dose of professional skepticism is essential in fighting fraud, even if it seems unnatural or uncomfortable to be skeptical of those we have come to trust. … The word skeptical is defined as not easily convinced; having doubts or reservations.
What did Cynics believe?
Cynicism is a school of philosophy from the Socratic period of ancient Greece, which holds that the
purpose of life is to live a life of Virtue in agreement with Nature
(which calls for only the bare necessities required for existence).
