In a manner showing distrust of human nature or motives; with the belief that people are selfish and insincere.
From Greek 'kynikos' (dog-like), from the Cynic school of philosophers who lived simply and believed people were naturally selfish. The adverbial form adds '-ly' to cynical.
Cynicism literally comes from 'dog-like' behavior—the ancient Cynics compared humans to dogs and thought we should live as simply and honestly as dogs, which is the opposite of modern cynicism!
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