Definitions
Distrustful of others and expecting selfish motives.
Word origin
Originated 1542, from Classical Latin cynicus (“Cynic/cynic”, adjective) + -al. By surface analysis, cynic + -al. In reference to dogs, with allusion to the ultimate etymology (Ancient Greek κυνικός (kunikós, “doglike”)).
Used in a sentence
“I hope it is no very cynical asperity not to confess obligations where no benefit has been received.”
“He seldom talked, and when he did, it was usually to make some cynical remark-for instance, he would say that God had given him a tail to keep the flies off, but that he would sooner have had no tail and no flies.”
“On any given day, those who get their news from the loudest voices on the right—Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh, Breitbart News—are bombarded with partisan propaganda, conspiracy theories, and cynical rage-bait.”
Source: Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0
Used as a crossword answer1 curated clues
01“Distrustful of motives”7 letters
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