disapproval If you say that someone is cynically doing something, you mean they are doing it to benefit themselves and they do not care that they are deceiving, harming, or using people. He accused the mainstream political parties of cynically exploiting this situation. see also cynical
Of or relating to the Cynics, a sect of ancient Greek philosophers who believed virtue to be the only good and self-control to be the only means of achieving virtue
If you describe someone as cynical, you mean they believe that people always act selfishly. his cynical view of the world. idealistic + cynically cyni·cal·ly As one former customer said cynically, `He's probably pocketed the difference!'
Given to sneering at rectitude and the conduct of life by moral principles; disbelieving in the reality of any human purposes which are not suggested or directed by self-interest or self-indulgence; as, a cynical man who scoffs at pretensions of integrity; characterized by such opinions; as, cynical views of human nature
If you are cynical about something, you do not believe that it can be successful or that the people involved are honest. It's hard not to be cynical about reform