Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary - cynical

 adjective  Date: 1542  1. captious, peevish  2. having or showing the attitude or temper of a cynic: as  a. contemptuously distrustful of human nature and motives those ~ men who say that democracy cannot be honest and efficient — F. D. Roosevelt  b. based on or reflecting a belief that human conduct is motivated primarily by self-interest a ~ ploy to cheat customers  • ~ly adverb Synonyms:  ~, misanthropic, pessimistic mean deeply distrustful. ~ implies having a sneering disbelief in sincerity or integrity ~ about politicians' motives. misanthropic suggests a rooted distrust and dislike of human beings and their society a solitary and misanthropic artist. pessimistic implies having a gloomy, distrustful view of life pessimistic about the future.