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. There are five meanings listed in oed's entry for the adjective cynical, one of which is labelled obsolete.

Believing or showing the belief that people are motivated chiefly by base or selfish concerns; Skeptical of the motives of others: A cynical dismissal of the politician's promise to reform the campaign finance … Definition of cynical adjective in oxford advanced learner's dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more. Believing that people are only interested in themselves and are not sincere: Used to say….

Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more. Believing that people are only interested in themselves and are not sincere: Used to say…. Learn more. A cynical person has a bleak outlook about others, always imagining that people are ruled by their worst instincts. Mencken was famous for saying cynical things like, nobody ever went broke … Distrusting or disparaging the motives of others; Like or characteristic of a cynic. See examples of cynical used in a sentence. Believing or showing the belief that people are motivated chiefly by base or selfish concerns; Skeptical of the motives of others.

Mencken was famous for saying cynical things like, nobody ever went broke … Distrusting or disparaging the motives of others; Like or characteristic of a cynic. See examples of cynical used in a sentence. Believing or showing the belief that people are motivated chiefly by base or selfish concerns; Skeptical of the motives of others.

Believing or showing the belief that people are motivated chiefly by base or selfish concerns; Skeptical of the motives of others.