Cynical vs Doubt - What's the difference?
cynical | doubt |
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.
:
Uncertainty, disbelief.
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(ambitransitive) To lack confidence in; to disbelieve, question, or suspect.
* Hooker
* Dryden
(archaic) To fear; to suspect.
* 1819 , Lord Byron, Don Juan , I.186:
(obsolete) To fear; to be apprehensive of.
* R. of Gloucester
* Shakespeare
* Spenser
(obsolete) To fill with fear; to affright.
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* Beaumont and Fletcher
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 doubt is
uncertainty, disbelief.As a verb doubt is
(ambitransitive) to lack confidence in; to disbelieve, question, or suspect.cynical
English
Adjective
(en adjective)References
* * *doubt
English
Alternative forms
* (l) (obsolete)Noun
(wikipedia doubt)- It was April 22, 1831, and a young man was walking down Whitehall in the direction of Parliament Street.. He halted opposite the Privy Gardens, and, with his face turned skywards, listened until the sound of the Tower guns smote again on the ear and dispelled his doubts .
Verb
(en verb)- He doubted that was really what you meant.
- Even in matters divine, concerning some things, we may lawfully doubt
- To try your love and make you doubt of mine.
- He fled, like Joseph, leaving it; but there, / I doubt , all likeness ends between the pair.
- Edmond [was a] good man and doubted God.
- I doubt some foul play.
- I of doubted danger had no fear.
- The virtues of the valiant Caratach / More doubt me than all Britain.