1) 认为世人或具体场合下的某些特定个人一定抱有卑鄙自私的目的，从而对之持怀疑否定的态度。

• a cynical dismissal of the politician's promise to reform the campaign finance system对那个政客改革竞选筹款制度的诺言持否定态度。

2) 以“你不仁我也就不义”为辩解，自己本身也进行自私的算计。

• The general showed a cynical disregard for the safety of his troops in his efforts to advance his reputation.那位将军为了增进自己的声誉，冷酷无情地不顾自己部队的安全。

3) “看破红尘”、悲观、往坏处想。

• a cynical view of the average voter's intelligence对一般选民的智慧看得很低。

4) “冷眼旁观”、“冷嘲热讽”。

• cynical laughter嘿嘿耻笑
• the cynical observer of life at a distance (Virginia Woolf. Night and Day)从远处冷眼旁观人生百态的人。

5) 不带贬义的“就事论事”、“想得开”、“讲实际”。

• From his cynical perspective, the reality of major social events never lived up to romantic expectation.从他那种事事想得开的观点看来，重大社会事件的实情，从来都是满足不了浪漫主义的期待的。