Sarcastic and mocking (7) Crossword Clue
Answer: CYNICAL (7 letters)
The answer to the crossword clue "Sarcastic and mocking" with 7 letters is "CYNICAL"."CYNICAL" describes a person who is sarcastic and mocking, often expressing disbelief or contempt towards others' motives or actions.
Why “Cynical” Fits
The clue asks for a 7-letter adjective meaning “sarcastic and mocking.” The answer, CYNICAL, fits perfectly:
- Sarcastic and mocking: "Cynical" describes a tone or attitude that shows deep distrust for human motives and sincerity, often expressed through sarcasm, biting wit, and mocking commentary. Someone described as “cynical” doesn’t just doubt people’s goodwill—they often scorn or deride it, coming across as both sarcastic and dismissive.
- Direct synonymy: The word is regularly listed alongside "sarcastic," "sardonic," and "mocking" in major thesauruses and writing guides.
This sharp-toned adjective precisely aligns with the clue, in both connotation and letter count.
“Cynical” is a word loaded with skepticism:
- Origin: From the Greek “kynikos” (dog-like), it historically described philosophers who doubted social conventions and motives. In modern usage, it refers to a jaded, distrustful, and often scathingly sarcastic worldview.
- Everyday use: “Cynical satire,” “a cynical remark,” or “cynical humor” all signal a cutting, negative, and often mocking take on life or events.
- Related words: Synonyms include "sarcastic," "satirical," "mocking," "biting," and "scornful." All have a similar edge, but "cynical" is especially about mistrustful mockery.
"Cynical" bridges the clue’s requirements for tone, attitude, and acerbic style.
In quick crosswords, clues like “sarcastic and mocking (7)”:
- Point to adjectives with a negative, witty edge—“cynical,” “satiric,” “sardonic.”
- The answer length (7) is a perfect match, and “cynical” is widely used for personalities or humor that’s dry, biting, and mocking.
- Simple descriptive clues with emotional or tonal cues often rely on high-frequency adjectives like "cynical."
Spotting the intersection of tone, distrust, and snark immediately leads to “cynical.”