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Cynical vs Droll - What's the difference?

cynical | droll |

As adjectives the difference between cynical and droll

is that cynical is of or relating to the belief that human actions are motivated only or primarily by base desires or selfishness while droll is oddly humorous; whimsical, amusing in a quaint way; waggish.

As a noun droll is

a buffoon.

As a verb droll is

to joke, to jest.

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

    * * *

    droll

    English

    Adjective

    (er)
  • oddly humorous; whimsical, amusing in a quaint way; waggish

    • Synonyms

    * See also

    Derived terms

    * drollery * drolly * drollness

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (archaic) A buffoon
  • * , Episode 12, The Cyclops
    • Our two inimitable drolls did a roaring trade with their broadsheets among lovers of the comedy element and nobody who has a corner in his heart for real Irish fun without vulgarity will grudge them their hardearned pennies.

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (archaic) To joke, to jest.
  • * 1886 , Robert Louise Stevenson, Kidnapped
    • "Eh, man," said I, drolling with him a little, "you're very ingenious! But would it not be simpler for you to write him a few words in black and white?

    Anagrams

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