Daily Word Challenge #21 · October 16, 2026
cynic
nounSIN-ik
What it means
A cynic believes people act mainly out of self-interest and tends to doubt that anyone is sincere or good.
Cynic in a sentence
Even the biggest cynic in the office was moved by the team's gesture.
Similar words: skeptic, doubter, pessimist
Where it comes from
From Greek kynikos, "dog-like", the nickname of an ancient school of philosophers who rejected social conventions.
Play puzzle #21 Today's challenge
Quick quiz
1. What does CYNIC mean?
2. Which word is closest in meaning to CYNIC?
3. Which word completes the sentence? "Even the biggest _____ in the office was moved by the team's gesture."
Unscramble challenge
Rearrange these letters to make a five-letter word meaning "an object surviving from the past":
Show the answer
RELIC, from Daily Word Challenge #13.