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cynicism

   Also found in: Encyclopedia, Wikipedia, Hutchinson 0.22 sec.
cyn·i·cism  (sn-szm)
n.
1. An attitude of scornful or jaded negativity, especially a general distrust of the integrity or professed motives of others: the public cynicism aroused by governmental scandals.
2. A scornfully or jadedly negative comment or act: "She arrived at a philosophy of her own, all made up of her private notations and cynicisms" (Henry James).
3. Cynicism The beliefs of the ancient Cynics.

cynicism
Noun
the attitude or beliefs of a cynic

Cynicism
a Greek philosophy of the 4th century B.C. advocating the doctrines that virtue is the only good, that the essence of virtue is self-control and individual freedom, and that surrender to any external influence is beneath the dignity of man. — Cynic, n.Cynical, adj.
See also: Philosophy
the holding or expressing of opinions that reveal disbelief and sometimes disdain for commonly held human values and virtues. Also called cynism. See also philosophy. — cynic, n.cynical, adj.
See also: Attitudes
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun1.cynicism - a cynical feeling of distrust
pessimism - the feeling that things will turn out badly

cynicism
Translations
cynicism [ˈsɪnɪsɪzəm] ncinismo
cynicism [ˈsɪnɪsɪzəm] ncynisme m
cynicism [ˈsɪnɪsɪzəm] cynic nZynismus m
cynicism [ˈsɪnɪsɪzəm] ncinismo


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? Mentioned in ? References in classic literature
 
In Bjornson there is nothing of Ibsen's scornful despair, nothing of his anarchistic contempt, but his art is full of the warmth and color of a poetic soul, with no touch of the icy cynicism which freezes you in the other.
But not so much as her cynicism in the long dialogue with her lover which followed.
It is the doctrine of universal experience professed with a cynicism that is really most extraordinary, and which, presenting itself in a young woman of considerable education, appears to me to be the judgment of a society.
 
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