Cynicism
'sɪnɪsɪzəm
Definitions
An inclination to believe that people are motivated purely by self-interest; skepticism.
'sɪnɪsɪzəm
A general distrust of people's motives and sincerity.
His cynicism about marriage stemmed from witnessing his parents' acrimonious divorce.
💡 Simply: It's like when you think everyone's just out to get something for themselves. Like, if your friend says they're doing something nice, but you secretly think they want something in return, that's cynicism!
👶 For kids: Thinking that people are not being honest and are just pretending to be nice.
More Examples
The film's dark humor and cynical worldview resonated with the jaded audience.
Cynicism is a common defense mechanism against disappointment.
How It's Used
"Many voters expressed cynicism about the promises made by politicians."
"The study explored the effects of cynicism on social cohesion."
"The novel portrayed the world with a pervasive sense of cynicism."
Idioms & expressions
to wear one's heart on one's sleeve
To display one's emotions openly.
"Unlike his colleagues, he didn't hide his feelings; he wore his heart on his sleeve."
glass half-empty
A pessimistic outlook on life.
"The cynic always sees the glass as half-empty, never appreciating what is there."
From Late Latin *cynismus*, from Greek *kynismos* 'doggedness', from *kynikos* 'of a dog', referring to the ancient Greek philosophical school of Cynicism, which emphasized rejection of societal norms and values. The term evolved to describe a general distrust of human nature and motives.
The term has been used since the late 16th century, initially relating to philosophical Cynicism but evolving to its current meaning by the 19th century.