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Cynical vs Disdain - What's the difference?

cynical | disdain |

As an adjective cynical

is of or relating to the cynics, a sect of ancient greek philosophers who believed virtue to be the only good and self-control to be the only means of achieving virtue.

As a noun disdain is

(uncountable) a feeling of contempt or scorn.

As a verb disdain is

to regard (someone or something) with strong contempt.

cynical

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Of or relating to the belief that human actions are motivated only or primarily by base desires or selfishness.
  • *(Samuel Johnson) (1709-1784)
  • *:I hope it is no very cynical asperity not to confess obligations where no benefit has been received.
  • Skeptical of the integrity, sincerity, or motives of others.
  • Bitterly or jadedly distrustful or contemptuous; mocking.
  • *
  • *:He seldom talked, and when he did, it was usually to make some cynical remark-for instance, he would say that God had given him a tail to keep the flies off, but that he would sooner have had no tail and no flies.
  • Showing contempt for accepted moral standards by one's actions.
  • *
  • *:When he, at Neergard's cynical suggestion, had consented to exploit his own cluband had consented to resign from it to do so, he had every reason to believe that Neergard meant to either mulct them heavily or buy them out. In either case, having been useful to Neergard, his profits from the transaction would have been considerable.
  • Like the actions of a snarling dog.
  • :

    • References

    * * *

    disdain

    English

    Noun

    (-)
  • (uncountable) A feeling of contempt or scorn.
    • The cat viewed the cheap supermarket catfood with disdain and stalked away.
  • * William Shakespeare, Much ado about Nothing :
    • Disdain and scorn ride sparkling in her eyes.
  • (obsolete) That which is worthy to be disdained or regarded with contempt and aversion.
  • * Spenser
    • Most loathsome, filthy, foul, and full of vile disdain .
  • (obsolete) The state of being despised; shame.
    • (Shakespeare)

    Synonyms

    * condescension, contempt, scorn * See also

    Derived terms

    * disdainful

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To regard (someone or something) with strong contempt.
  • * Bible, 1 Sam. xvii. 42
    • When the Philistine saw David, he disdained him; for he was but a youth.
  • * The Qur'an, trans. , verse 170
  • *:The Messiah, Jesus the son of Mary, is but the apostle of God and His Word, […] The Messiah doth surely not disdain' to be a servant of God, nor do the angels who are nigh to Him ; and whosoever '''disdains''' His service and is too proud, He will gather them altogether to Himself. But as for those who believe and do what is right, He will pay their hire and will give increase to them of His grace. But as for those who ' disdain and are too proud, He will punish them with a grievous woe, and they shall not find for them other than God a patron or a help.
  • * {{quote-news, year=2012, date=November 7, author=Matt Bai, title=Winning a Second Term, Obama Will Confront Familiar Headwinds, work=New York Times citation
    • , passage=The country’s first black president, and its first president to reach adulthood after the Vietnam War and Watergate, Mr. Obama seemed like a digital-age leader who could at last dislodge the stalemate between those who clung to the government of the Great Society, on the one hand, and those who disdained the very idea of government, on the other.}}
  • (obsolete) To be indignant or offended.
  • * 1526 , William Tyndale, trans. Bible , Matthew XXI:
    • When the chefe prestes and scribes sawe, the marveylles that he dyd [...], they desdayned , and sayde unto hym: hearest thou what these saye?

    Synonyms

    * contemn * See also