A few days ago
Student

Define the word “cynical” in layman’s terms.?

I know what the dictionary definitions say, but what does it mean in street slang? Different people seem to have different views of this word so I’m just curious.

Give your answer as if you were defining it for a 7 year-old. Also, is it always necessarily considered to be a “bad” characteristic?

Top 5 Answers
A few days ago
Sword Lily

Favorite Answer

Someone who is cynical has a lot of doubts about the good things in other people and in situations. A cynic usually has to see for him or herself whether or not there are good things about a person or a situation rather than just believing it.

I think cynicism can be a positive thing in that it keeps one from running headlong into trouble. Sometimes the crowd can put pressure on to do things that might not be wise. Cynics just might stop and realize how dangerous or unneccessary situations are. I think cynicism brings alot of reality to an otherwise daydreamy world. People sometimes want to believe that everything is just peachy keen when it’s really not . IMHO

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4 years ago
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Define The Word Cynical
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A few days ago
whodey31
Think of it as always looking at things negatively. Focusing on the bad instead of the good. Being mean for the sake of being mean. It is always a “bad” characteristic.
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A few days ago
Jeff S
If someone is cynical it means they don’t believe anything you say. Some people are cynical just so they can start an argument.

A typical cynical reply is: “I doubt it!”

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A few days ago
Kumar
could mean “nerdy” or even “mad” or could even mean “one who over reacts to certain situations”
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