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Who is cynical?
What is the difference between “skeptical” and “cynical”?What is the difference between “skeptical” and “cynical”?Who is ‘Sarah Palin impersonator’?Who can explain this poem?What does “cynical confidence” mean?What does the word “abjection” mean in this context?Who is one who participates in skulduggery?Who is a “vocal customer”?How do you reconcile these definitions of the word 'cynical'?“Who cares here” meaning“Who we are?”or “who are we?”
.everyoneloves__top-leaderboard:empty,.everyoneloves__mid-leaderboard:empty,.everyoneloves__bot-mid-leaderboard:empty margin-bottom:0;
I believe that a certain politician is motivated by his/her own selfish interests, he/she having dispensed with social norms of morality.
So am I cynical, or is the politician I referred to cynical? I find the first two senses, as defined at
https://english.stackexchange.com/a/12459/251434, conflicting, and therefore, confusing.
meaning
asked yesterday
Many TonguesMany Tongues
114
New contributor
Many Tongues is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
|
show 1 more comment
I believe that a certain politician is motivated by his/her own selfish interests, he/she having dispensed with social norms of morality.
So am I cynical, or is the politician I referred to cynical? I find the first two senses, as defined at
https://english.stackexchange.com/a/12459/251434, conflicting, and therefore, confusing.
meaning
asked yesterday
Many TonguesMany Tongues
114
New contributor
Many Tongues is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Welcome to ELU. Have you consulted a dictionary?
– AleksandrH
yesterday
See my latest edit. I forgot to include the link. Sorry for the confusion.
– Many Tongues
yesterday
1
It depends on where you are standing.
– Hot Licks
yesterday
(Consider that you might both be cynics.)
– Hot Licks
yesterday
1
Please clarify what you mean, Hot Licks. I am not clear on how your comment applies. Thanks.
– Many Tongues
yesterday
|
show 1 more comment
I believe that a certain politician is motivated by his/her own selfish interests, he/she having dispensed with social norms of morality.
So am I cynical, or is the politician I referred to cynical? I find the first two senses, as defined at
https://english.stackexchange.com/a/12459/251434, conflicting, and therefore, confusing.
meaning
asked yesterday
Many TonguesMany Tongues
114
New contributor
Many Tongues is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
I believe that a certain politician is motivated by his/her own selfish interests, he/she having dispensed with social norms of morality.
So am I cynical, or is the politician I referred to cynical? I find the first two senses, as defined at
https://english.stackexchange.com/a/12459/251434, conflicting, and therefore, confusing.
meaning
meaning
asked yesterday
Many TonguesMany Tongues
114
New contributor
Many Tongues is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked yesterday
Many TonguesMany Tongues
114
New contributor
Many Tongues is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited 1 hour ago
Many Tongues
asked yesterday
Many TonguesMany Tongues
114
New contributor
Many Tongues is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked yesterday
Many TonguesMany Tongues
114
asked yesterday
Many TonguesMany Tongues
114
114
New contributor
Many Tongues is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Many Tongues is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Many Tongues is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Welcome to ELU. Have you consulted a dictionary?
– AleksandrH
yesterday
See my latest edit. I forgot to include the link. Sorry for the confusion.
– Many Tongues
yesterday
1
It depends on where you are standing.
– Hot Licks
yesterday
(Consider that you might both be cynics.)
– Hot Licks
yesterday
1
Please clarify what you mean, Hot Licks. I am not clear on how your comment applies. Thanks.
– Many Tongues
yesterday
|
show 1 more comment
Welcome to ELU. Have you consulted a dictionary?
– AleksandrH
yesterday
See my latest edit. I forgot to include the link. Sorry for the confusion.
– Many Tongues
yesterday
1
It depends on where you are standing.
– Hot Licks
yesterday
(Consider that you might both be cynics.)
– Hot Licks
yesterday
1
Please clarify what you mean, Hot Licks. I am not clear on how your comment applies. Thanks.
– Many Tongues
yesterday
Welcome to ELU. Have you consulted a dictionary?
– AleksandrH
yesterday
Welcome to ELU. Have you consulted a dictionary?
– AleksandrH
yesterday
See my latest edit. I forgot to include the link. Sorry for the confusion.
– Many Tongues
yesterday
See my latest edit. I forgot to include the link. Sorry for the confusion.
– Many Tongues
yesterday
1
1
It depends on where you are standing.
– Hot Licks
yesterday
It depends on where you are standing.
– Hot Licks
yesterday
(Consider that you might both be cynics.)
– Hot Licks
yesterday
(Consider that you might both be cynics.)
– Hot Licks
yesterday
1
1
Please clarify what you mean, Hot Licks. I am not clear on how your comment applies. Thanks.
– Many Tongues
yesterday
Please clarify what you mean, Hot Licks. I am not clear on how your comment applies. Thanks.
– Many Tongues
yesterday
|
show 1 more comment
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
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.
However, usually, when one is referred to as a cynic (noun) in contemporary English, it means that they qualify for this definition, per the OED:
A person disposed to rail or find fault; now usually: One who shows a disposition to disbelieve in the sincerity or goodness of human motives and actions, and is wont to express this by sneers and sarcasms; a sneering fault-finder.
Based on usage, one might refer to someone like the politician you described with the adjective "cynical," but would be less likely to call them the noun "cynic." When the noun "cynic" is invoked, it usually applies to someone like yourself in this situation, who "disbelieve[s] in the sincerity or goodness of human motives and actions," as opposed to someone who "shows contempt for... standards of... morality."
If you want to give yourself some credit for holding these views about a particular politician and not people in general, you might not refer to yourself as a cynic but rather a skeptic.
answered 23 hours ago
RaceYouAnytimeRaceYouAnytime
19k244102
If person A commits homicide against person B, I think it's pretty clear that we would say that A had been homicidal. I am not aware that anyone would normally call person B homicidal.
– Many Tongues
1 hour ago
Your analysis is interesting, but I think extraordinarily, complex to explain a simple English construction. Also note that both senses of the definition given in the post I referenced are for "cynical," not "cynic."
– Many Tongues
51 mins ago
add a comment |
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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.
However, usually, when one is referred to as a cynic (noun) in contemporary English, it means that they qualify for this definition, per the OED:
A person disposed to rail or find fault; now usually: One who shows a disposition to disbelieve in the sincerity or goodness of human motives and actions, and is wont to express this by sneers and sarcasms; a sneering fault-finder.
Based on usage, one might refer to someone like the politician you described with the adjective "cynical," but would be less likely to call them the noun "cynic." When the noun "cynic" is invoked, it usually applies to someone like yourself in this situation, who "disbelieve[s] in the sincerity or goodness of human motives and actions," as opposed to someone who "shows contempt for... standards of... morality."
If you want to give yourself some credit for holding these views about a particular politician and not people in general, you might not refer to yourself as a cynic but rather a skeptic.
answered 23 hours ago
RaceYouAnytimeRaceYouAnytime
19k244102
If person A commits homicide against person B, I think it's pretty clear that we would say that A had been homicidal. I am not aware that anyone would normally call person B homicidal.
– Many Tongues
1 hour ago
Your analysis is interesting, but I think extraordinarily, complex to explain a simple English construction. Also note that both senses of the definition given in the post I referenced are for "cynical," not "cynic."
– Many Tongues
51 mins ago
add a comment |
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.
However, usually, when one is referred to as a cynic (noun) in contemporary English, it means that they qualify for this definition, per the OED:
A person disposed to rail or find fault; now usually: One who shows a disposition to disbelieve in the sincerity or goodness of human motives and actions, and is wont to express this by sneers and sarcasms; a sneering fault-finder.
Based on usage, one might refer to someone like the politician you described with the adjective "cynical," but would be less likely to call them the noun "cynic." When the noun "cynic" is invoked, it usually applies to someone like yourself in this situation, who "disbelieve[s] in the sincerity or goodness of human motives and actions," as opposed to someone who "shows contempt for... standards of... morality."
If you want to give yourself some credit for holding these views about a particular politician and not people in general, you might not refer to yourself as a cynic but rather a skeptic.
answered 23 hours ago
RaceYouAnytimeRaceYouAnytime
19k244102
If person A commits homicide against person B, I think it's pretty clear that we would say that A had been homicidal. I am not aware that anyone would normally call person B homicidal.
– Many Tongues
1 hour ago
Your analysis is interesting, but I think extraordinarily, complex to explain a simple English construction. Also note that both senses of the definition given in the post I referenced are for "cynical," not "cynic."
– Many Tongues
51 mins ago
add a comment |
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.
However, usually, when one is referred to as a cynic (noun) in contemporary English, it means that they qualify for this definition, per the OED:
A person disposed to rail or find fault; now usually: One who shows a disposition to disbelieve in the sincerity or goodness of human motives and actions, and is wont to express this by sneers and sarcasms; a sneering fault-finder.
Based on usage, one might refer to someone like the politician you described with the adjective "cynical," but would be less likely to call them the noun "cynic." When the noun "cynic" is invoked, it usually applies to someone like yourself in this situation, who "disbelieve[s] in the sincerity or goodness of human motives and actions," as opposed to someone who "shows contempt for... standards of... morality."
If you want to give yourself some credit for holding these views about a particular politician and not people in general, you might not refer to yourself as a cynic but rather a skeptic.
answered 23 hours ago
RaceYouAnytimeRaceYouAnytime
19k244102
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.
However, usually, when one is referred to as a cynic (noun) in contemporary English, it means that they qualify for this definition, per the OED:
A person disposed to rail or find fault; now usually: One who shows a disposition to disbelieve in the sincerity or goodness of human motives and actions, and is wont to express this by sneers and sarcasms; a sneering fault-finder.
Based on usage, one might refer to someone like the politician you described with the adjective "cynical," but would be less likely to call them the noun "cynic." When the noun "cynic" is invoked, it usually applies to someone like yourself in this situation, who "disbelieve[s] in the sincerity or goodness of human motives and actions," as opposed to someone who "shows contempt for... standards of... morality."
If you want to give yourself some credit for holding these views about a particular politician and not people in general, you might not refer to yourself as a cynic but rather a skeptic.
answered 23 hours ago
RaceYouAnytimeRaceYouAnytime
19k244102
answered 23 hours ago
RaceYouAnytimeRaceYouAnytime
19k244102
answered 23 hours ago
RaceYouAnytimeRaceYouAnytime
19k244102
answered 23 hours ago
RaceYouAnytimeRaceYouAnytime
19k244102
19k244102
If person A commits homicide against person B, I think it's pretty clear that we would say that A had been homicidal. I am not aware that anyone would normally call person B homicidal.
– Many Tongues
1 hour ago
Your analysis is interesting, but I think extraordinarily, complex to explain a simple English construction. Also note that both senses of the definition given in the post I referenced are for "cynical," not "cynic."
– Many Tongues
51 mins ago
add a comment |
If person A commits homicide against person B, I think it's pretty clear that we would say that A had been homicidal. I am not aware that anyone would normally call person B homicidal.
– Many Tongues
1 hour ago
Your analysis is interesting, but I think extraordinarily, complex to explain a simple English construction. Also note that both senses of the definition given in the post I referenced are for "cynical," not "cynic."
– Many Tongues
51 mins ago
If person A commits homicide against person B, I think it's pretty clear that we would say that A had been homicidal. I am not aware that anyone would normally call person B homicidal.
– Many Tongues
1 hour ago
If person A commits homicide against person B, I think it's pretty clear that we would say that A had been homicidal. I am not aware that anyone would normally call person B homicidal.
– Many Tongues
1 hour ago
Your analysis is interesting, but I think extraordinarily, complex to explain a simple English construction. Also note that both senses of the definition given in the post I referenced are for "cynical," not "cynic."
– Many Tongues
51 mins ago
Your analysis is interesting, but I think extraordinarily, complex to explain a simple English construction. Also note that both senses of the definition given in the post I referenced are for "cynical," not "cynic."
– Many Tongues
51 mins ago
add a comment |
Many Tongues is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Many Tongues is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Many Tongues is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Many Tongues is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
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Welcome to ELU. Have you consulted a dictionary?
– AleksandrH
yesterday
See my latest edit. I forgot to include the link. Sorry for the confusion.
– Many Tongues
yesterday
1
It depends on where you are standing.
– Hot Licks
yesterday
(Consider that you might both be cynics.)
– Hot Licks
yesterday
1
Please clarify what you mean, Hot Licks. I am not clear on how your comment applies. Thanks.
– Many Tongues
yesterday