Someone who is a tough sell

Usage examples of cynic.

He would never have told the full truth to that incredulous old cynic of a time-server--the truth that he was resigning at the dictation of a pride which forbade him to involve others in the ruin he, in his madness, was bent upon.

The cynic Demetrius--his rules of conduct--Of the truly wise man--Whether one who has done everything in his power to return a benefit has returned it--Ought one to return a benefit to a bad man?

In the matter of the penny he thought of the king, in that of the talent he thought of the cynic, whereas with respect to the cynic it would have been right to receive the penny, with respect to the king it would have been right to give the talent.

Though there may be things which are too great for a cynic to receive, yet nothing is so small, that it does not become a gracious king to bestow it.

Your cynic has publicly proclaimed his hatred of money, and assumed the character of one who despises it: let him act up to his professions.

The cynic Demetrius, who in my opinion was a great man even if compared with the greatest philosophers, had an admirable saying about this, that one gained more by having a few wise precepts ready and in common use than by learning many without having them at hand.

He spoke with so much warmth that Haxtell, who was a cynic, made a mental note of a possible line of inquiry.

Only a hardened cynic would notice that Elaine French was perfectly made up, that her fur coat was worn casually open to display her perfect figure rather than bundled up for warmth, that the lighting had been used to flatter and enhance her beauty.

He began quoting Colney Durance with relish while sarcastically confuting the cynic, who found much pasture in these Gardens.

Being a cynic, I did not believe our sentimental hero was nostalgic for his Baetican bride of barely a few months, Claudia Rufma.

The many voices of his workthe rhythms and stances of the clinical observer, sardonically twisted wit, enraged cynic, brilliant brooding doubter, keening griever after beauty or at least dignity, humble straight talker, and of course, the thunderare all his voice.

The many voices of his work -- the rhythms and stances of the clinical observer, sardonically twisted wit, enraged cynic, brilliant brooding doubter, keening griever after beauty or at least dignity, humble straight talker, and of course, the thunder -- are all his voice.

Its efficiency silenced all but the irredeemable cynics, those inhabitants of the city who enjoyed Dublin the more for being able to find daily reminders of its chaos and decrepitude.

Those same cynics said that it was an unrealistic commitment, naive and doomed to failure.

Maybe it was just me, maybe I was an old cynic, maybe he really was a literary giant penning the next Catcher in the Rye above my very ceiling, and if I ever saw him on Parky, or in the top ten at Smiths, believe me, I would be the first to put my hands up and there would definitely be hats for dinner.