Hayward felt that life was full of ugliness, his soul revolted from the thought of affronting again the cynicism of examiners, and he saw something rather splendid in kicking away the ball which lay at his feet.
Nowadays the terms " cynical" and " cynicism" have come to mean a sneering disbelief in human sincerity, and they imply insensitivity to other people's suffering.
Goncharov's critical or merely snide comments about the British or the Americans (the positive ones were ignored) were interpreted by Muraveisky as criticisms of imperialism as such, not of its abuses.
This time we want to reject the cynicism that tells us that these kids can't learn; that those kids who don't look like us are somebody else's problem.
From the moment the article appeared, Harry had to endure people, Slytherins mainly, quoting it at him as he passed them, and making sneering comments.