cynicism
Assuming selfish motives
Cynicism is a disposition to distrust others' motives and dismiss claims of sincerity or goodness.
A cynic assumes people act from self-interest and that idealistic talk masks baser intentions: Her cynicism about politics kept her from voting.
The word can describe a general worldview or a reaction to specific disappointments: Years in corporate law had bred a deep cynicism about justice.
Expecting unfavorable outcomes
- nihilismRejection of objective meaning
- skepticismDisposition toward doubt
- fatalismDoctrine of inevitable outcomes
- realismAccepting things as they are
pragmatism · existentialism · absurdism · misanthropy · defeatism · negativism · stoicism · determinism
Sense of unease about motives
- skepticismDisposition toward doubt
- distrustAbsence of confidence
- warinessCautious distrust
- doubtLack of firm belief
disbelief · incredulity · misgivings · paranoia · guarded · leery · wary · cautious
Irony used to mock
- derisionContemptuous mockery
- scornHostile dismissive feeling
- contemptDisdainful disregard
- sneeringExpressing scorn facially
mockery · ridicule · disparagement · irony · wit · satire · acerbic · biting
Freed from false beliefs
- jadedDulled by overindulgence
- pessimisticExpecting negative outcomes
- world-wearyFatigued by existence
- bitterSharp, unpleasant taste
disenchanted · soured · apathetic · indifferent · detached · blasé · disaffected · alienated
Founder of Cynicism
- asceticismSevere self-denial practice
- Greek philosophyClassical Mediterranean intellectual tradition
- virtueMoral goodness or merit
- self-sufficiencyIndependence from outside aid
naturalism · austerity · Stoicism · ancient philosophy · cosmopolitanism · simplicity · antiestablishment
pessimism
Expecting unfavorable outcomes
- nihilismRejection of objective meaning
- skepticismDisposition toward doubt
- fatalismDoctrine of inevitable outcomes
realism · pragmatism · existentialism · absurdism · misanthropy · defeatism · negativism · stoicism · determinism · materialism
suspicion
Sense of unease about motives
- skepticismDisposition toward doubt
- distrustAbsence of confidence
- warinessCautious distrust
doubt · disbelief · incredulity · misgivings · paranoia · guarded · leery · wary · cautious · dubious
sarcasm
Irony used to mock
sneering · mockery · ridicule · disparagement · irony · wit · satire · acerbic · biting · caustic
disillusioned
Freed from false beliefs
- jadedDulled by overindulgence
- pessimisticExpecting negative outcomes
- world-wearyFatigued by existence
bitter · disenchanted · soured · apathetic · indifferent · detached · blasé · disaffected · alienated · resentful
Diogenes
Founder of Cynicism
- asceticismSevere self-denial practice
- Greek philosophyClassical Mediterranean intellectual tradition
- virtueMoral goodness or merit
self-sufficiency · naturalism · austerity · Stoicism · ancient philosophy · cosmopolitanism · simplicity · antiestablishment
- ismscapitalism, socialism, communism, anarchism, racism
- pessimismpessimism, nihilism, fatalism, hopelessness, despair
- humorjoke, jokes, joking, comedy, comic
- bad attitudesnegativity, pessimism, hostility, contempt, resentment
- burnoutburned out, burnt out, burn out, burning out, burnout
- Gen XGeneration X, Gen X, MTV generation, latchkey kids, slackers
cynicismidealism
Belief in noble principles
trust · naivety · confidence · credulity · good faith
cynicismoptimism
Tendency to expect good
idealism · hope · hopefulness · faith · confidence
cynicismearnestness
Genuine seriousness of intent
sentimentality · sincerity · enthusiasm · wholeheartedness · wonder