What is the difference between skeptical and cynical? The cynical desire of History Channel to attract viewers by including irrelevant and even incorrect material teaches me to be skeptical of its production values If the History Channel were to become more fastidious about their product I may become less cynical and therefore less skeptical of what they present as history
meaning - What does cynical confidence mean? - English Language . . . I know that cynical means something along the lines of believing the worst in people, but how does this word coincide with confidence? For instance, what would this line mean? The witness had a cynical confidence I'm lost on how to interpret this phrase
What is the difference between sardonic and sarcastic? Basically, sardonic and sarcastic both stand for mocking gestures, but what is the difference in their contextual use? Are there any other words that represent a similar gesture?
meaning - English Language Usage Stack Exchange Also see What is the difference between “sardonic” and “sarcastic”?, and note that cynical appears in the definition shown for sardonic: “grimly mocking or cynical” As noted in mplungjan's comment, “A cynic or someone using cynicism is not necessarily trying to hurt anyone”
Who is cynical? - English Language Usage Stack Exchange The definition you linked to includes two definitions of cynical, apparently from Collins English Dictionary And it is true that people are often described as cynical when they are "showing contempt for accepted standards of honesty or morality by one's actions," as in the case of the politician you described
How do you reconcile these definitions of the word cynical? From the Google Search dictionary (similar definition at oxforddicationaries): 1 believing that people are motivated purely by self-interest; distrustful of human sincerity or integrity 2