SIN-is-iz-uhm
/ˈsɪnɪˌsɪzəm/
Cynicism is pronounced SIN-is-iz-uhm (/ˈsɪnɪˌsɪzəm/). Cynicism is a belief characterized by contempt for accepted standards or motives, often accompanied by a distrust of others’ sincerity. It denotes a skeptical or pessimistic attitude toward human motives and integrity. As a concept, it can describe both a general worldview and a particular voice or tone in speech.
nounCynicism is a belief characterized by contempt for accepted standards or motives, often accompanied by a distrust of others’ sincerity. It denotes a skeptical or pessimistic attitude toward human motives and integrity. As a concept, it can describe both a general worldview and a particular voice or tone in speech.
"Her cynicism about politics hardened after years of broken promises."
"The comedian’s cynicism was softened by wry humor."
"Public discourse often veers into cynicism when people feel unheard."
Cynicism is pronounced /ˈsɪnɪˌkɪzəm/ in US and UK English, with primary stress on the first syllable: CIN-ih-kiz-um. Break it into syllables: syn-uh-kiz-uhm, with a clear /s/ + short /ɪ/ in the first syllable and a light secondary stress on the third syllable. Mouth positioning: start with a spread lip shape for /s/, then a short /ɪ/ in a relaxed jaw position, followed by /n/ and a light /ɪ/ again, then /k/ with a silent release, and finish with /zəm/.”,
Common errors: (1) Misplacing the stress, saying cyn-i-cism with equal stress; (2) Slurring the /k/ before /ə/ or deleting the /z/ sound, producing /ˈsɪnɪˌkɪzəm/ without the z; (3) Mispronouncing the final -ism as -ism with a reduced vowel. Correction: keep primary stress on the first syllable, ensure the /k/ before /ɪ/ is a hard stop, and clearly voice the /z/ in -kɪz- to avoid turning it into /-kɪs-/.
US/UK/AU share /ˈsɪnɪˌkɪzəm/ but rhotic or non-rhotic differences are subtle in this word; in rhotic accents, the /r/ is not present here, so no rhoticity. Minor vowel length and quality can shift: US /ɪ/ may be slightly lax, UK /ɪ/ sometimes firmer; AU tends toward a more centralized vowel in the first /ɪ/. Overall, the syllable structure and /k/+/z/ cluster remain stable across accents.
Key challenges: the consonant cluster -nɪk- followed by -ɪz- requires precise tongue placement to avoid blending into -nɪkɪz-, and the unstressed schwa at the end can blur; ensuring the /z/ is voiced and not devoiced is essential. The primary stress on the first syllable must be clear, not reduced, and many speakers slide into -ɪzəm- too early; practice slow, then speed with control.
A distinctive concern is maintaining the strong initial /s/ followed by a clipped /ɪ/ in the first syllable, avoiding a long /ɪ/ as in ‘sin’- vs ‘sih’-sound. Also, ensure the transition from /k/ to /ɪ/ is a clean stop rather than a glottalized or glossed sound. Visualize the word as CIN-i-kiz-um to reinforce the syllable boundaries.
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Cynicism derives from Latin cynicus, from Ancient Greek kunikos (κανίνικος), meaning ‘dog-like’ or ‘dog-like temperament.’ The term originated as a label for the group of philosophers founded by Antisthenes, a student of Socrates, who advocated ascetic virtue and self-sufficiency. The Greek kunikos itself might trace to kunos, ‘dog,’ used pejoratively by opponents to describe Cynic philosophers’ unconventional lifestyle and rejection of social conventions. By the Roman era, the word entered Latin as cynicus, applying to the Greek school and their ethos. In English, cynicism began to describe a general disposition toward distrust of others’ motives and skepticism toward sincerity, not just adherence to a philosophical school. The modern sense crystallized in the 17th–19th centuries as public discourse increasingly cast doubt on motives in politics and society, evolving to cover both satirical depictions and everyday attitudes of suspicion toward integrity. The semantic shift moved from a label for a distinct philosophical movement to a broader, often pejorative, stance on human behavior and institutions. First known use in English traces to early modern literature that referenced Cynic philosophy and its reputed disdain for conventional virtue, with broader popularization in the 18th–19th centuries as secular commentary on social hypocrisy and moral posturing.
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Words that rhyme with "Cynicism"
-ism sounds
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