cynic

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Mr. Riley’s column reminds me of Oscar Wilde’s definition of a cynic: “A man who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 23, 2026

Given the state of the government's popularity, you don't have to be a cynic to ask if these sorts of promises will be enough to turn things round.

From BBC • Mar. 21, 2026

A cynic might argue that, like pumpkin-flavored treats appearing in stores during the first week of August, these successes are merely the product of early excitement for the Halloween season.

From Salon • Oct. 23, 2025

You have the rare gift of making financial analysis feel like sitting at a bar with the smartest cynic in the room.

From MarketWatch • Oct. 17, 2025

“Do not hope; instead, observe” were words that Flora, as a cynic, had found useful in the extreme.

From "Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures" by Kate DiCamillo