cynical

The word “cynical” means distrustful of people's sincerity, believing that self-interest is the real motive behind most actions. In plain terms, doubting that people or actions are genuinely good, and assuming self-interest instead.

“Cynical” is pronounced SIH-nih-kuhl (/ˈsɪnɪkəl/ in IPA).

Here is “cynical” used in a sentence: “She grew cynical about politics after years of broken promises.”

“Cynical” is an adjective.

The word “cynical” comes from Ancient Greek. From Latin cynicus, itself from Ancient Greek kunikos ("doglike"), the same root as the ancient philosophical school the Cynics.

“Cynical” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.

Skeptical simply means doubting a specific claim until evidence supports it, while cynical implies a broader distrust of people's sincerity, assuming self-interest motivates most actions. A skeptical person questions particular statements; a cynical person questions people's underlying motives in general.

Cynical is usually seen as a negative or guarded trait, since it implies distrust of others' sincerity and an assumption that self-interest drives behavior. However, some people use it more neutrally to describe a realistic, unsentimental outlook shaped by experience.

Pessimistic refers to expecting bad outcomes in general, while cynical specifically involves distrusting people's motives and sincerity. Someone can be pessimistic about the weather without being cynical, since cynicism is centered on human behavior and intentions.