an attitude of distrust or skepticism toward the motives of others
example
Her cynicism about the politicians' promises made it hard for her to believe any of their proposals would be beneficial to the public.
synonyms
skepticismdistrustpessimism
word origin — The word 'cynicism' originates from the Ancient Greek 'kynismos', which relates to the Cynic philosophers who believed in living virtuously in agreement with nature.
SAT Vocabulary Level 2 — Set 307
Set 307 of SAT Vocabulary Level 2 covers 5 words: cynicism, hoax, opiate, knoll, pore. Each entry below includes its definition, an example sentence, and synonyms — practice them with the interactive cards above.
cynicism · noun/ˈsɪn.ɪ.sɪ.zəm/
an attitude of distrust or skepticism toward the motives of others
Her cynicism about the politicians' promises made it hard for her to believe any of their proposals would be beneficial to the public.
Synonyms: skepticism, distrust, pessimism
Origin: The word 'cynicism' originates from the Ancient Greek 'kynismos', which relates to the Cynic philosophers who believed in living virtuously in agreement with nature.
hoax · noun/hoʊks/
a deceptive or misleading act or story intended to trick people
The viral video was revealed to be a hoax, misleading thousands of viewers into believing it was real.
Synonyms: fraud, deception, trick
Origin: The word 'hoax' is believed to have originated in the late 19th century, possibly derived from the word 'hocus' in the phrase 'hocus pocus,' referencing trickery or deception.
opiate · noun/ˈoʊ.pi.ət/
a substance derived from the opium poppy used to relieve pain and induce sedation
The doctor prescribed an opiate to help manage the patient's severe pain after surgery.
Synonyms: narcotic, painkiller, sedative
Origin: The word 'opiate' comes from the late Latin 'opiatus', which is derived from 'opium', originating from the Greek 'opion' meaning 'poppy juice'.
knoll · noun/noʊl/
a small rounded hill or mound
The children climbed to the top of the knoll to get a better view of the sunset.
Synonyms: hill, mound, berg
Origin: Middle English 'knolle', from Old English 'cnoll', meaning a small hill or mound.
pore · noun/pɔr/
a small opening in a surface through which substances may pass
The skin has tiny pores that allow sweat to escape and help regulate body temperature.
Synonyms: opening, orifice, vent
Origin: Middle English 'por', from Latin 'porus', from Greek 'poros' meaning 'passage'.