“I'm skeptical of all politicians — I assume they're corrupt.”
Usage Entry 1413 / 1605 60-second read
Skeptical vs. Cynical
Doubting until shown evidence versus distrustful of human motives.
The comparisoni
“I'm cynical of all politicians — I assume they're corrupt. CYNICISM assumes bad motives. SKEPTICISM doubts but stays open to evidence.”
The ruleii
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SKEPTICAL = doubting. CYNICAL = distrusting.
SKEPTIC withholds belief until evidence is supplied — open to being convinced. CYNIC assumes selfish motives behind ostensibly virtuous acts — a worldview, not an investigative stance. Skepticism is methodological; cynicism is dispositional.
Memory aidiii
Remember it like this
Skeptic asks. Cynic concludes.