All 5 Uses of
cynical
in
Catch-22
- He broke his sacred oath the very next year, when he spent the holiday in a hotel room instead in intellectual conversation with Lieutenant Scheisskopf's wife, who had Dori Duz's dog tags on for the occasion and who henpecked Yossarian sententiously for being cynical and callous about Thanksgiving, even though she didn't believe in God just as much as he didn't.†
Chpt 18
- He kept the chaplain in a constant state of terror with his curt, derisive tongue and his knowing, cynical eyes that the chaplain was never brave enough to meet for more than an accidental second.†
Chpt 20
- He laughed quietly, his sunken, shrewd eyes sparkling perceptively with a cynical and wanton enjoyment.†
Chpt 23 *
- Colonel Korn was silent a moment, regarding the chaplain with a glint of cynical amusement.†
Chpt 36
- 'Of course,' Colonel Korn answered pleasantly, after he had chased the mighty guard of massive M.P.s out with an insouciant flick of his hand and a slightly contemptuous nod — most relaxed, as always, when he could be most cynical.†
Chpt 40
Definition:
-
(cynical) someone who expects the worst -- especially of people (such as expecting them to be selfish and lie)