1believing that people are motivated purely by self-interest; distrustful of human sincerity or integrity:he was brutally cynical and hardened to every sob story under the sun
doubtful as to whether something will happen or whether it is worthwhile:most residents are cynical about efforts to clean mobsters out of their city
contemptuous; mocking:he gave a cynical laugh
2concerned only with one’s own interests and typically disregarding accepted standards in order to achieve them:a cynical manipulation of public opinion
