Cynical vs Hopeful - What's the difference?
cynical | hopeful |
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.
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*: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.
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*: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.
:
Feeling hope.
Inspiring hope.
Somebody who is hoping for success or victory.
As adjectives the difference between cynical and hopeful
is that cynical is of or relating to the belief that human actions are motivated only or primarily by base desires or selfishness while hopeful is feeling hope.As a noun hopeful is
somebody who is hoping for success or victory.cynical
English
Adjective
(en adjective)References
* * *hopeful
English
Alternative forms
* hopefull (archaic)Adjective
(en adjective)- I have been very hopeful .
- I am hopeful that I will recover from the disease.
Antonyms
* hopeless * desperate * dejectedNoun
(en noun)- Several presidential hopefuls are campaigning in New Hampshire this week.
