Cynical and Scathing

Cynical

Cynical adjective - Having or showing a deep distrust of human beings and their motives.

Scathing and cynical are semantically related in mocking topic. In some cases you can use "Scathing" instead an adjective "Cynical".

Nearby Words: cynicism, cynic, cynically

Scathing

Scathing adjective - Marked by the use of wit that is intended to cause hurt feelings.
Usage example: a scathing rebuttal of the latest theory concerning the assassination

Cynical and scathing are semantically related in mocking topic. Sometimes you can use "Cynical" instead an adjective "Scathing".

Nearby Words: scathe, scathed, scathingly

Both words in one sentence

  • Modern Minstrelsy Spike Lee's Bamboozled is a scathing satire of Modern Minstrelsy, taking aim at the cynical (white) minds behind the entertainment.
  • Film / Star Trek: First Contact The Pollyanna: Despite having just received a scathing Money, Dear Boy speech from a cynical Zefram Cochrane, Riker still has hope that he'll be a better man after the experience.
Cite this Source
Scathing and Cynical. (2016). Retrieved 2026, July 29, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/cynical/scathing
Cynical & Scathing. N.p., 2016. Web. 29 Jul. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/cynical/scathing>.
Scathing or Cynical. 2016. Accessed July 29, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/cynical/scathing.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "cynical" and "scathing" have occurred on timeline