Cynicism Tropes

We have done with Hope and Honour, we are lost to Love and Truth,
We are dropping down the ladder rung by rung,
And the measure of our torment is the measure of our youth.
God help us, for we knew the worst too young!

— Rudyard Kipling, "Gentleman-Rankers"

Tropes entailing pessimism, distrust, and negativity in general. A few clues as to which end of the Sliding Scale of Idealism vs. Cynicism you are — or the characters think they are. It should be noted that some of these tropes can qualify as Idealism Tropes and vice versa, depending on the writer's handling.

Don't expect these tropes to be all sunshine and rainbows:

Categories:

Abomination Accusation Attack: Want to make someone look really bad? Accuse them of being some kind of monster!
Absolute Xenophobe: Kill everything that isn't us!
Abusive Offspring: Children who hate and abuse their parents.
Abusive Parents: Some parents don't love you, or have a particularly ugly idea of love.
Accentuate the Negative: There's nothing good about anything.

Adults Are Useless: Adults hardly help children with their issues.
Albinos Are Freaks: People with albinism are considered freaks.
Aliens Are Bastards: Aliens are all out to kill us.
All Are Equal in Death: Cynical interpretation: only in death are people equal.
All Crimes Are Equal: You did something minor? Death!
All for Nothing: All that effort you put in? Probably shouldn't have bothered.
All Girls Want Bad Boys: A woman is attracted to a man because he's 'bad'.

All Issues Are Political Issues: Have something? Let me ruin it by inserting politics into it!
All of the Other Reindeer: Everyone hates you for some reason.
All Take and No Give: Someone who takes everything but doesn't give anything in return.
Always Chaotic Evil: Some people/creatures are just evil by nature.
Ambition Is Evil: Wanting to improve your standing in life will ultimately corrupt you and turn you evil.
The American Dream: Flavor 2: America is a place where dreams come to die.
Americans Hate Tingle: A work or person is not as received abroad as it is at home.
Anarchy Is Chaos: No government means no order.
And There Was Much Rejoicing: Your absence will not be missed. In fact, it will be celebrated.
Angry Black Man: Black people who are always angry at white people.
Angry White Man: White people who think they're being marginalized by society in favor of minorities.
Animation Age Ghetto: Animation can only be enjoyed by children, so there's no point in making any for anyone else.
Anti-Escapism Aesop: Escaping reality because your reality is painful is weak, immature and pathetic. (Though this can also be an idealism trope Depending on the Writer).
Anti-Hero: It doesn't matter whether they are in an idealistic or a cynical setting, this hero fervently believes that the world they live in is one where morally dubious methods are the only way to get the job done.
- Byronic Hero: This hero is cynical, brooding, and deeply-flawed, but is somewhat sympathetic.
- '90s Anti-Hero: A specific anti-hero from The '90s who is gritty, dark, and violent in contrast to The Cape.
- Nominal Hero: Known as the "Hero" In Name Only because they do heroic deeds for personal reasons.
- Pragmatic Hero: Getting their hands dirty even if they hold themselves to a strict moral code.
- Unscrupulous Hero: A morally abhorrent hero who fights off villains worse than him.
Anti-Villain: Sometimes people who are considered evil are opposed to society for some good reasons and those in power are just labelling said person as evil to hide their own motives from the public. (Can also be an Idealism Trope, depending on how it's written.)
Anyone Can Die: No one, not even the main characters, are safe from being Killed Off for Real.
Apathetic Citizens: There's a disaster happening, but none of the citizens seem to care.
Appeal to Fear: Bad things will happen if you don't listen to us!
Appeal to Force: I'm right! If you disagree, I will hurt you.
Appeal to Inherent Nature: That's just the way things are. It cannot and will not change.
Appeal to Nature: It's good because it happens in nature and/or bad because it doesn't happen in nature.
Appeal to Worse Problems: You're concerned about that? There are far worse problems in the world!
Aristocrats Are Evil: Royalty is evil.
Arrested for Heroism: The police try to arrest you for doing the right thing because it's not exactly the way they want it.
Ashcan Copy: We didn't care about the artistic merit, we just had a legal obligation to do so.
Asshole Victim: Bad person becomes the victim of a crime for reasons unrelated to their nature. Because he was bad, no one cares.
At Least I Admit It: Being open about your flaws doesn't make you a bad person, and let's leave it at that.
Awful Wedded Life: Marriage isn't all it was cracked up to be, is it?
Bad Boss: Bosses treat their employees like crap.
The Bad Guy Wins: Sometimes good doesn't triumph. In fact, victory favors villainy in dark times.
- Pyrrhic Villainy: ...But the villain paid a price for winning.
The Barnum: There's a sucker born every minute.
Beauty Is Bad: Very attractive characters are usually evil or mean.
Being Good Sucks: Doing the right thing is always difficult.
Being Human Sucks: Being a human being sucks so much that being a non-human is preferable.
Being Tortured Makes You Evil
Belief Makes You Stupid: Believing in something that cannot be proven can make us do stupid things.
Beware the Superman: When a superhero becomes a tyrant.
Be Yourself: Can be cynical if it suggests one should not change oneself at all, even for the better.
Beyond Redemption: This jerk is never going to see the light, so you might as well stop trying.
The Big Rotten Apple: New York City is a shithole.
Bitch in Sheep's Clothing: That person isn't as nice as you thought.
Bittersweet Ending: Where an ending is mixed with happiness and sadness.
Black-and-Gray Morality: There are no pure good guys, just bad guys and shady guys.
Black and White Insanity: Real-life society is not as clear cut as we would like it to be. Therefore, don't expect everyone to meet your definition of good and refuse to adapt to the way that society exists and thus turn into an Ideological Extremist.
Black-and-White Morality: Portraying one side as completely good and one side as completely evil.
Blame Game: The search for a scapegoat that completely spirals out of control.
Blessed with Suck: Maybe that curse will come in handy.
Blind Obedience: Doing whatever you're told, no matter what the intent of the one ordering.
Bodyguard Betrayal: You're betrayed by the people who were supposed to protect you.
Born Unlucky: This person has suffered misfortune their entire life.
Bread and Circuses: As long as the government keeps the citizens happy and distracted, they can get away with anything.
Break the Cutie: Put a happy and cheerful person through hell.
Break the Motivational Speaker: A motivational speaker wants to give people hope and optimism. Another character easily disproves him.
Bridezilla: Impending marriage can bring out the worst in you.
Bright Is Not Good: Bright colors are evil/dangerous.
Broken Bird: Trauma will make you a bitter, distant person.
Broken Pedestal: Your heroes are anything but heroic.
Brutal Honesty: Screw sensitivity, I'm telling the truth!
Bullying the Disabled: Bullying someone, because they're crippled.
Buses Are for Freaks: Public transportation is shit.
But for Me, It Was Tuesday: The villain commits so many horrible crimes that one particular atrocity that the heroes remember was just part of the villain's routine.
Butt-Monkey: This guy is constantly put through hell.
- The Chew Toy: The audience loves to see him suffer.
Bystander Syndrome: No one will bother to help you when you're in trouble.
Callousness Towards Emergency: People who could help in an emergency don't because they don't care.
Can't Take Criticism: Someone who can't accept being criticized.
Card-Carrying Jerkass: I'm proud to be a jerk!
Card-Carrying Villain: I know I'm a villain, and I'm proud of it!
Casting Couch: The only way to make it in the film industry is by sleeping with the director/producer.
Category Traitor: Being considered a traitor to a group you belong for selling out/not holding a relevant opinion.
Cavalry Betrayal: Apparent rescuers attack the heroes.
The Chain of Harm: Someone abuses another which leads to the abused abusing the next person, and the cycle perpetuates.
Child Hater: A character who really hates children.
Children Are a Waste: Children are seen as inconvenient and burdensome.
Chilly Reception: Newcomers are treated coldly and unfairly.
The Complainer Is Always Wrong: Being yourself is wrong.
Complete Monster: Violently vile beyond redemption. The only cure to this filth of humanity is a bullet in the head.
Condescending Compassion: One only feels compassionate when one is in a superior position to the victim.
Conspiracy Theorist: Some nebulous conspiracy must be behind this, I swear!
Contempt Crossfire: Someone is hated by both sides for not completely siding with either.
Convicted by Public Opinion: The public has already decided that a suspect is guilty, regardless of actual facts.
Corrupt Bureaucrat: A greedy, lazy and self-centered civil servant.
Corrupt Church: The church isn't all that saintly.
Corrupt Corporate Executive: This guy will cross any line, as long as it makes him more money.
Corrupt Politician: A person who abuses his political power for personal gain.
Corrupt the Cutie: Turning a good-hearted character into a jerk.
Corrupt Quartermaster
Cosmic Horror Story: Humanity doesn't matter in the grand cosmos at large.
Could This Happen to You?: Sensationalized reporting about things that could possibly be bad for you.
Crapsack World: The world is a terrible, shitty place. No one wants to be here.
- Crapsaccharine World: The world looks like a shiny happy paradise. It's anything but.
Create Your Own Villain: The Hero and/or Big Good's actions lead to the origin story of the villain.
Creating Life Is Bad: Humans creating intelligent life is wrong.
Cruel to Be Kind: Sometimes, helping people can require you to do something terrible to them.
Cruel Twist Ending: A Twist Ending that is mean-spirited rather than ironic.
Cultural Posturing: My culture is better than yours.
Culture Justifies Anything: I can do this bad thing because it's okay in my culture.
Cycle of Revenge: Taking vengeance will only lead to more vengeance. It may begin with you, but it won't end with you.
Culture Police: This art doesn't match our values, censor it!
The Cynic: The character with a negative view on the world.
Cynical Mentor: I'm mentoring you, but I don't give a crap whether or not you'll succeed.
Cynic–Idealist Duo: The cynic and the idealist are a duo.
Cynicism Catalyst: A traumatic event makes a character more cynical than before.
Daddy Had a Good Reason for Abandoning You: An estranged father gives an excuse for why they left their child.
Dark Shepherd: Someone who keeps the sheep to the straight and narrow through threats of punishments.
Darker and Edgier: Turn a Lighter and Softer program into something dark and more "adult".
Darkness-Induced Audience Apathy: A work is so dark and bleak and the characters so unlikable that it's impossible to care about the story at all.
Dead Horse Genre: Genres that everyone hate.
A Degree in Useless: A college degree, particularly in certain subjects, won't help you lead a better life; you'd be better off just sticking with that fast-food job you had in high school.
Democracy Is Bad: Letting the people vote won't get you anywhere. Authoritarianism is the only thing that works.
Democracy Is Flawed: Democracy has problems.
Demonization: Making someone or something look bad.
Designated Hero: (when used in-universe) We're the good guys because those in authority said so.
Designated Villain: (when used in-universe) You people are the bad guys because your goals are an inconvenience to those in authority.
Despair Event Horizon: What's the use of it? I give up!
Despair Speech: My life is completely hopeless, and the only thing I can do now is to monologue about it.
Despotism Justifies the Means: I don't care what happens to my planet and its inhabitants as long as I'm in control of it all.
Destructive Romance: Love can lead to very bad things not only to yourself, but for everyone around you.
Deus Angst Machina: Bad things will just happen to people repeatedly for no real reason.
Devil, but No God: A Big Bad exists; a Big Good does not.
Diabolus ex Machina: A happy ending is ruined by an unexpected development.
Did Not Get the Girl: The one you love ends up with someone else instead of you.
Dirty Cop: A cop who abuses his power for personal gain.
- Bad Cop/Incompetent Cop: Cops are not only sleazy bastards; they're useless idiots!
Dirty Coward: When there's danger, I'm willing to abandon others to save myself.
Disability as an Excuse for Jerkassery: I'm disabled, so I get a free pass on being a jerk!
Disappointed in You: I'm not angry, I'm just very disappointed.
Disappointing Older Sibling: An older sibling lets down and loses the respect of his younger siblings.
Dislikes the New Guy: No new friends.
Dismotivation: I don't want to change the status quo.
Disproportionate Retribution: You're going to suffer, and we don't care how insignificant your offense may be!
Divided We Fall: Dissension between the heroes gets in the way stopping the villain.
Divorce Requires Death: A person ends their marriage by killing their spouse.
Documentary of Lies: A documentary filled with lies.
Does Not Like Men: Someone who has a negative attitude about the male gender.
Dogged Nice Guy: Can also be an idealism trope, Depending on the Writer.
Dog-Kicking Excuse: Because the only way you can bring yourself to be a Jerkass to the Friend to All Living Things is to find something about them to get peeved over. Something of a Zig Zagged Trope in terms of cynicism, as it takes quite a bit of cynicism to look for one, but the fact that you need one implies that you aren't a Complete Monster.
Domestic Abuse: Violence in the family.
Doomed Defeatist: If you're a defeatist, you'll die.
Doomed Moral Victor: Can be played more idealistically for a Bittersweet Ending.
Double Standard: Abuse, Female on Male: It's bad when men abuse women, but somehow not when women abuse men.
Do Unto Others Before They Do Unto Us: We must use our superweapon before others find it and use it against us!
Downer Beginning: A bad start causes half the failure.
Downer Ending: No happy ending.
Dude, Where's My Respect?: No one will show you any gratitude for your good deeds.
Dystopia: This society is absolutely horrible.
Dystopia Justifies the Means: Deliberately creating a horrible society.
Dystopian Oz: Oz is not a perfect utopia just over the rainbow after all.
Eagleland (Type 2 version): America is a wretched society.
Easy Road to Hell: The path to hell is easy, and decided by factors beyond your control.
Eat the Rich: We should kill the rich!
Eco-Terrorist: Saving the planet requires punishing all of humanity for their crimes against nature.
Eight Deadly Words: Characters are so poorly written/dull that it's impossible to care about them and/or the story.
The Elites Jump Ship: The rich and powerful don't care about you! They'll leave you to rot when things get tough!
Enemy Mine: Sometimes you have to work with your usual enemies to stop an even greater threat. Can be an idealism trope depending on the handling.
Entitled Bastard: I want your help, even though I've made your life a living hell.
Esoteric Happy Ending: The creator is presumed to be the only one who considers this to be idealistic.
Et Tu, Brute?: Your loved ones will abandon you.
Everything Is Racist: Anything and everything can be taken as racist and/or discriminatory.
Evil All Along: Oh no! It turns out the person I thought was my friend was actually a villain the whole time!
Evil Feels Good: Doing malevolent acts makes you feel good.
- Evil Pays Better: Doing evil not only feels good, it's more rewarding than doing good.
Evil Is Cool: Evil is seen as aspiring instead of abhorrent. Especially when it's the result of other tropes (IE: Good Is Boring, Evil Feels Good, Being Good Sucks), people glorify villains just for the sake of coolness, regardless (or sometimes, even because) of their horrible actions and character.
Evil Is Easy: Doing evil is far more easier and convenient than doing good.
Evil Is Petty: Evil people do evil things for petty reasons.
Evil Reactionary: I will make things as they were in the past, when they were better!
The Evils of Free Will: Free will causes people to do evil. Eliminate it.
Evil Stole My Faith: Being teased and mocked forces you to abandon your faith.
Evilutionary Biologist: I will use science to better humanity, regardless of any morals or consequences!
Evil vs. Evil: Villains are fighting each other with no heroes in sight.
Executive Meddling: The higher-ups interfere with one's creative work.
Expert in Underwater Basket Weaving: Cool talent! Too bad it's totally useless.
Extreme Doormat: Willing to have others step over them.
The Extremist Was Right: Extremism works.
Face–Heel Turn: The Hero turns evil.
Failure Hero: The hero can't succeed at anything important.
Failure Is the Only Option: We're all bound to failure.
Fair for Its Day: A work is horribly racist, sexist, or otherwise bigoted, but is still considered progressive because mainstream society at the time the work was made was even worse.
Fair Weather Friend: Where are they when you really need them?
Fallen Angel: An angel rebels against Heaven, often becoming evil in the process, and is cast out.
Fallen Hero: He used to be a hero, but not anymore.
False Flag Operation: Pretending to be the enemy to attack yourself to have an excuse to start something.
False Friend: Someone you thought was your friend actually wasn't.
False Rape Accusation: Falsely accusing someone of sexual assault.
False Utopia: This place is absolutely perfect, right? Wrong!
Family Values Villain: A villain with traditionalist views.
The Farmer and the Viper: Good deeds are not always repaid with good — in fact, the person you tried to help may well end up betraying you.
Fat Bastard: You thought all overweight people are likable? Well, not with this guy.
The Fatalist: Believes there's no point in fighting your fate.
Feeling Oppressed by Their Existence: The mere fact they exist is my problem!
Feet of Clay
Female Misogynist: A woman who hates other women.
Fighting Back Is Wrong: Trying to fight back makes you just as bad as the aggressor.
Final Solution: Genocide as the last resort to deal with a race or species.
First World Problems: Blowing small problems out of proportion because they bother you due to your privilege.
Flat-Earth Atheist: Deny the existence of an almighty deity.
Flaw Exploitation: Exploiting someone's flaws for profit.
Forever War: There can literally be NO end to this war.
Forgiven, but Not Forgotten: Just because I've forgiven you doesn't mean I will get over what you've done.
Former Child Star: Enjoy your youth, kid. You're better off seeing movies than being in movies, because if you are an child actor or actress and you turn 18, it all goes downhill from there.
For the Evulz: Doing evil things just for the fun of it.
For Your Own Good: Rationalizing bad deeds because they're done out of concern for one's wellbeing.
Franchise Zombie: When Executive Meddling causes a series that should have ended well to go wrong.
Freedom from Choice: Too much freedom to choose is bad.
Frequently-Broken Unbreakable Vow: Promises don't last, and you will be forced to break them. Again, and again and again.
Freudian Excuse: I'm evil because something horrible happened to me in the past!
Freudian Excuse Is No Excuse: Having a shitty past doesn't absolve you of your shitty behavior in the present.
Fridge Horror: The negative aspects to Fridge Logic.
From Bad to Worse: You expect to recover from a bad situation, but it took the inverse to your hope.
Full-Circle Revolution: La Résistance overthrows an oppressive government, only to become an oppressive government themselves.
Fully-Embraced Fiend: A character embraces their monstrous (and usually evil) side rather than resist it.
The Fundamentalist: My religious beliefs are right, everyone else's are wrong!
Gentle Touch vs. Firm Hand (the latter): Giving guidance to others by treating them harshly.
G.I.F.T.: Anonymity on the Internet encourages people to be assholes.
Girl-Show Ghetto: While men's entertainment can appeal to all audiences, women's entertainment can only be aimed at women, with no crossover potential.
God Is Displeased: The supreme deity withdraws their protection of mortals over a slight.
God Is Evil: The supreme deity is a monster.
God Is Flawed: The supreme deity isn't perfect.
Godwin's Law: Want to make someone look really bad? Compare them to the Nazis!
Gold Digger: I'm not here for a relationship. I just want your money.
Golden Mean Fallacy: The middle of two extremes isn't always the right answer.
Good Cannot Comprehend Evil: Good people can't understand why people are evil.
Good Is Boring: The only thing you goody-two-shoes are good at is making people fall asleep. Also portraying virtues and harmony as inherently dull.
Good Is Dumb: Good people are naive idiots.
Good Is Impotent: Good is inherently weaker than Evil itself.
Good Is Not Nice: Goodness and heroism aren't always about kindness, sweetness, and light, despite doing good.
Good Is Old-Fashioned: Idealism is yesterday's news.
Good Needs Evil: The complete elimination of deviance (i.e., evil) would end up making those whose jobs it is to enforce society's norms (i.e., good) obsolete.
Good Powers, Bad People: Bright powers don't always equal to a bright person.
Good Victims, Bad Victims: Classifying people on whether or not they deserve their misfortune depending on their circumstances.
Graying Morality: The heroes become less idealistic. Of course, this can also be an idealistic trope if it tends toward White-and-Grey Morality.
Growing Up Sucks: Life will suck when you get older.
Grumpy Bear: In a idealistic setting, you will see someone who isn't a happy camper.
Guilt by Association Gag: Even if you didn't participate, you're still held responsible for a problem by mere association with whoever started it.
Guilt-Free Extermination War: Kill the other side! None of them matter! Kill them all!
Guilty Until Someone Else Is Guilty: No evidence proving someone's innocence ever matters except for one: exposing the true criminal.
Gullible Lemmings: Stupidly naive people who actively help bad people.
Happiness Is Mandatory: You see all of those happy people? They are forced to be Stepford Smilers by an oppressive government.
Happy Ending Override: Thought your happy ending would last? Just wait until the sequel!
Happy Marriage Charade: They have the perfect marriage...or, at least, it seems so.
Hard Work Hardly Works: Some people can work all their lives and never get what they want. Others can get what they want without any effort.
Hate at First Sight: Two characters meet and instantly hate each other.
Hates Everyone Equally: You're not biased if you hate everyone.
Hate Sink: The writers create a character whose job it is to be hated by the audience.
Hates the Job, Loves the Limelight
Headbutting Heroes: Not all heroes get along.
Head-in-the-Sand Management: I see the problem, but I don't think it is a problem, so I'll ignore it until it's too late!
He-Man Woman Hater: A man who hates women.
Henpecked Husband: A man who is often pushed around by his wife.
Hero with Bad Publicity: Good guys get undeserved hate from the public, despite their good deeds.
He Who Fights Monsters: Fighting evil will often see you becoming evil in the process.
Hiding Behind Religion: Using religion to conceal a sinister or ulterior motive.
Hitler Ate Sugar: Something is bad simply because a bad person did/liked doing it.
Hobbes Was Right: Ruling through fear always works.
Hollywood Atheist: This one can be an idealism trope, Depending on the Writer.
Hollywood Hype Machine: Hollywood plugs a potential star. If they succeed, great. If not, dump them and move on to the next one.
Honor Before Reason (when used in cynical contexts; e.g., "The right thing isn't always the smart thing").
Honor-Related Abuse: A character is mistreated or killed by their family for the sake of preserving the family's honor.
Hope Crusher: A villain who enjoys taking away hope from their victims.
Hopeless War: A war with no hope of victory or end.
Horrible Hollywood: Hollywood and everyone in it is shit.
Hope Is Scary (Played straight mostly by cynical characters in idealistic worlds; invoked by cynical characters in cynical worlds.)
Humanity Is Insane: Humans are the craziest fuckers you can ever find. Yes, even normal people.
Humans Are Bastards: Humans are cruel and evil to each other.
Humans Are Morons: Humans are stupid and incompetent.
Humans Are the Real Monsters: Whereas other species are morally superior.
Humans Kill Wantonly: Humans kill for petty/frivolous reasons because that's human nature.
Human Nature Fallacy: On the other hand, despite what some may say, the actions of a few good humans also do not reflect the many.
I Can Live With That (Type 1): Willing to accept a negative situation.
I Coulda Been a Contender!: Being forced to give up on your dream before it became reality.
I Did What I Had to Do: It was dirty business, but necessary.
I Don't Pay You to Think: Don't question my orders, just follow them!
If It Bleeds, It Leads: The news media prioritizes bloody stories over all else because it brings in money.
Ignorance Is Bliss: Sometimes it is better NOT to know about things.
"I Hate" Song: A song expressing cynicism and hatred for something or someone.
I Have No Son!: Getting disowned by your family.
Immoral Journalist: A journalist that doesn't care about writing the truth.
I'm Not Here to Make Friends: Winning a competition is more important than making friends!
Innocent Means Naïve: The innocent don't know what time it is.
Inherent in the System: The way things are in the world is the problem and improving the problem makes them worse.
Insane Equals Violent: Insane people are violent.
Insignificant Little Blue Planet: Oh, you humans think you're so special? You're not. Deal with it.
In Your Nature to Destroy Yourselves: Humanity is doomed to destroy itself through violence against its fellow man.
It Gets Easier: Doing bad things like killing gets easier the more you do them.
It Is Beyond Saving: When the current society is too corrupt to be worth it, destroy it.
It's Not Supposed to Win Oscars: Justifying the low quality of a work.
It Sucks to Be the Chosen One: Being the world's savior is not fun.
I've Come Too Far: It's too late for redemption.
I Will Punish Your Friend for Your Failure: If you fail me, I won't hurt you, but rather, someone you care about.
Jade-Colored Glasses: Cynics wear them.
Jaded Professional: They used to enjoy their job, but now hate it.
Jaded Washout: Used to be a successful person, but has become something of a failure.
Jerkass: That person is an asshole.
Jerk Justifications (Type 1 version): To get ahead in this Crapsack World, you must be an asshole.
Jerk with a Heart of Jerk: There is goodness in that person—NOT!
Jerks Are Worsethan Villains: Being a villain is pretty bad, but being a jerk is even worse.
Joker Immunity: Sorry, but we can't have the Big Bad be Killed Off for Real. Not because of the whole If You Kill Him, You Will Be Just Like Him nonsense, but if the villain dies, we the writers would be out of jobs.
Karma Houdini: Justice is not served.
Karmic Misfire: An innocent party is punished in place of a guilty party who goes scot free.
Kick the Dog: People doing cruel and insensitive things to show how rotten they are.
Kick Them While They Are Down: Attacking people who are unable to fight back.
Kids Are Cruel: Children aren't nice and good-mannered.
Kill All Humans: All humans must die.
Kill the Poor: Ending poverty by killing those who are poor.
Knight in Sour Armor: Doing the right thing while being a cynic.
Knight Templar (when idealism goes terribly wrong)
Know When to Fold 'Em: You just got to quit trying.
Lack of Empathy: Having no feelings for other people.
Leave No Survivors: Don't take any prisoners. Kill them all!
Lies, Damned Lies, and Statistics: Manipulating statistics to mislead people.
Life Isn't Fair: Telling everyone that life isn't as great as expected, usually in a cruel tone.
Light Is Not Good: The traditionally "good" forces aren't that benevolent.
A Lighter Shade of Grey: The closest thing to "good guys" in this setting.
Loaded Words: Using words with strong emotional connotations to manipulate people.
Lonely at the Top: I've gotten what I wanted, although I've lost everything else along the way.
Loners Are Freaks: Being a loner will get you the reputation of being a sociopath or just a weird loser.
Losing the Team Spirit: Something causes a team to lose their cohesion.
Love Cannot Overcome: Sometimes, The Power of Love just isn't enough.
Love Hurts: Falling in love will lead you getting hurt.
Love Is a Weakness: Falling in love makes you weak.
Love Makes You Crazy: Falling in love will cost your sanity.
Love Makes You Dumb: Falling in love will cost your intelligence.
Love Makes You Evil: Falling in love will cost you your own humanity.
Love Makes You Uncreative: Falling in love will cost your artistry.
Lower-Class Lout: Lower-class people are scum.
Lowest Common Denominator: In order for our work to appeal to a wider audience, we need to dumb it down.
Ludd Was Right: Technology is bad and we shouldn't use it!
Madden Into Misanthropy: A decent person becomes misanthropic and withdraws himself from society.
Made Out to Be a Jerkass: Calling out a jerk will make you look like a jerk instead.
Manipulative Bastard: A character manipulates others in order to further their goals.
Martyrdom Culture: A culture focused around dying for a purpose.
Mediation Backfire: Bringing peace on both sides will cause them to attack you.
Memetic Loser: Accentuate the Negative in the fandom.
Menagerie of Misery: Zoos are terrible places.
Mentor in Sour Armor: A world-weary mentor figure who shows their students Tough Love.
Merchandise-Driven: Who cares about the artistic value? We made it because it would sell toys and make us rich!
Might Makes Right: Force will get things done.
A Million Is a Statistic: Human sympathy and compassion can only go so far: the more people die, the less sympathy we can give.
A Mind Is a Terrible Thing to Read: Be careful about whose mind you poke around in — you may not like what you see.
Minority Show Ghetto: Films featuring racial minorities can only be aimed at said racial minorities, with no crossover potential.
Misanthrope Supreme: A human who hates humanity.
Misery Builds Character: Only people who suffer become stronger, because who cares about the weak?
Misplaced Nationalism: Nationalism causes people to argue with each other.
Missing White Woman Syndrome: The world only cares about missing people if they are white, female, pretty, and upper class.
Mocking the Mourner: Mocking someone for their loss.
Money, Dear Boy: An actor, writer, director, etc. does sub-par work simply to make money.
Monkey Morality Pose: The cynical interpretation: you choose to ignore something you should be paying attention to or acting on.
Moral Dissonance: The hero acts in a manner that contradicts their code and no one comments on it.
Moral Event Horizon: Once you cross this point, you're beyond redemption.
Moral Myopia: When we do bad things, it's justified. When you do bad things, it's an atrocity.
Moral Pragmatist: They don't care about doing good or evil. They just want to get the job done, and sometimes that means being evil.
Morton's Fork: Whether you take option A, option B, C, or what have you, you're doomed.
Murder Is the Best Solution: Wanna know the easiest solution? Just kill them!
Murphy's Law: Anything, and I mean anything, definitely will go wrong.
Music Is Politics: Music isn't some happy business, it's loaded with political machinations.
My Country, Right or Wrong: I am loyal to my country, even if what they do is bad.
Myopic Conqueror: When The Conqueror has no plans or interests for a place he conquers.
Nature Is Not Nice: Nature is coldly indifferent to you and everything else.
Nay-Theist: Doesn't like the concept of gods, even if they might be real.
Necessarily Evil: You have to be evil for the greater good.
The Needs of the Many: You have to let some people die in order to save many others.
Nepotism: Favoritism based on a person's relationship rather than any skill.
Never My Fault: Nothing is ever my fault, someone/something else made me do it!
New Era Speech: A person (usually a villain) declares that the world will change for the better. But you know it won't.
New Media Are Evil: New forms of media are bad for society.
Nice Character, Mean Actor: Sorry, kid, but those heroes you see in TV and movies are just cynical jerks in Real Life. They literally act nice because it's their job.
Nice Guys Finish Last: Women only love mean and aggressive men and vice versa.
No Accounting for Taste: Marriage isn't ideal.
No Good Deed Goes Unpunished: Doing the right thing will get you punished.
No Honor Among Thieves: "Every man for himself."
No Origin Stories Allowed: No backstories will ever be revealed, no matter how interesting they might be.
No Sense of Humor: Someone with no sense of humor.
No Sympathy: I don't care what you're going through!
Not in My Backyard!: I support something, as long as it doesn't affect me or require me to do anything big!
Not So Different: Sure, you might think that we are as different as night and day. Boy, are you mistaken... Can also be an Idealism Trope depending on the story.
Not-So-Well-Intentioned Extremist: Turns out the villain, who commits awful acts that are supposedly for noble causes, actually cares more about himself than about others.
Not Your Problem: What you idealists are doing shouldn't be your problem.
Obnoxious Entitled Housewife: An entitled privileged woman who treats everyone like dirt.
Offing the Offspring: Parent kills their child.
Omnicidal Maniac: The universe needs to perish. Every single last living being deserves nothing less but a early grave.
Only the Leads Get a Happy Ending: The main characters get a happy ending, but the minor characters don't.
Opinion Override: I find that offensive, even though I'm not part of the group it's supposedly offending!
Outgrown Such Silly Superstitions (Note that this can also be an idealism trope, depending on the context)
Pacifism Backfire: When choosing nonviolence ends up creating more problems.
Pædo Hunt: Want to make someone look really bad? Accuse them of being a pedophile!
Parental Neglect: Your parents don't pay attention, or just don't really care about you.
Parents as People: Some parents may mean well, but they sure don't realize that their "existing" children needs attention.
Path of Inspiration: This religion is a lie meant to control you, and it always has been.
Pay Evil unto Evil: An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth. Revenge is good.
Peer Pressure Makes You Evil
Persecuted Intellectuals: Intellectuals are persecuted.
Playing the Victim Card: I am a victim! Therefore, I cannot be wrong!
Poisonous Friend: A friend who tends to pressure their pal into doing questionable things.
Police Are Useless: Don't count on the cops to help you or save you.
- Police Brutality: In fact, they're just as likely to beat you or worse as help you.
Political Correctness Gone Mad: Disaster strikes only from being merely offended and nothing else!
Post-Historical Trauma: Some events are so horrible that it is difficult for anyone who lived afterward to ever be idealistic about human nature again.
Pounds Are Animal Prisons: Portraying animal shelters/pounds like they are prisons for animals.
Powder Keg Crowd: Only a small push is needed to turn a gathering into a riot.
The Power of Apathy: Strength in not giving a crap about anything.
The Power of Hate: Fast, easy, and seductive, but destructive to those who use and indulge in it.
Pragmatic Villainy: I only do nice things because they help me in the long run, not because I care for anyone.
Principles Zealot: Fear and refusal to accept the big picture to something that they follow will lead to disaster.
Prisoner's Dilemma: Who will betray who?
The Promised Land (Cynical flavor): Promises never last.
Propaganda Machine: Influencing the people to promote an agenda.
Psychological Projection: I'm not flawed, you are!
Punished for Sympathy: You do not show sympathy to the enemy, or I will punish you!
Pure Is Not Good: Trying to be Incorruptible Pure Pureness will turn you into a distant, inhuman, and utterly unsympathetic person at the mildest and a fanatical extremist at worst.
Pyrrhic Victory: Victory at a ruinous cost.
Quit Your Whining: Telling someone to stop wallowing in despair in a harsh manner.
Rationalizing the Overkill: My revenge ended up going too far, but they really deserved it!
Reality Ensues: Reality doesn't work in the way you expect it to be.
Realpolitik: A country has to be ruthless, manipulative bastards.
"The Reason You Suck" Speech: You are completely worthless!
Redemption Equals Affliction: Convert and you will suffer.
Redemption Failure: Circumstances will turn you back to the dark side.
Redemption Rejection: Rejecting the opportunity to redeem themselves.
Reformed, but Rejected: No one will trust or forgive you even if you've changed.
- Heel–Face Door-Slam: You want to change your ways? You're too late!
Refuse to Rescue the Disliked: Refusing to rescue or help someone you personally dislike.
Rejected Apology: No one will accept your apology.
Religion Is Wrong: Believing in higher powers is wrong.
Repressive, but Efficient: The government may be repressive and cruel, but it gets things done well.
The Resenter: Someone hates another person because the other person has something the first doesn't have.
Restricted Rescue Operation: There are restriction on what you can do to help people.
Revenge: Paying back someone who did you wrong.
The Revolution Will Not Be Civilized: In the end, the revolutionaries are just as brutal as the people they were overthrowing.
The Rich Want to Be Richer: The rich are only concerned with getting even richer.
Riches to Rags: A wealthy person becomes poor.
Rooting for the Empire: Rooting for villains to win, even if you're aware of their evil character and intentions.
Sadist: Someone who enjoys seeing others in pain.
Sadistic Choice: Either way you choose, you're going to lose something important to you.
- Suicidal Sadistic Choice: One of the choices is committing suicide.
Safety in Indifference: My indifference will protect me from getting hurt.
Sarcastic Clapping: Allow me to congratulate your failure.
Sarcastic Well Wishing: You've ruined everything. I hope you're proud of yourself.
Satanic Archetype: A villain is so sinister that they serve as an analogue to the devil.
Scare Campaign: Using fear, uncertainty, and doubt about a candidate and/or policies to manipulate voters.
School Is for Losers: Education is worthless.
Science Is Bad: Forget advancing technology, it only makes things worse.
Science Is Wrong: Science is all wrong!
Screw Politeness, I'm a Senior!: I'm a senior citizen, so this means I can act like an asshole however I want!
Screw the Rules, I Have Connections!: I don't have to follow the rules, I've got connections to powerful people!
Screw the Rules, I Have Money!: I have money, so I don't have to follow the rules!
Screw the Rules, I Make Them!: I make the rules, so I can say I don't have to follow them!
Screw the Rules, I'm Beautiful!: I look good, so I get a free pass on the rules!
Screw the Rules, I'm Famous!: I'm famous, so I don't have to follow the rules!
Secretly Selfish: Even if you're pursuing an altruistic goal, you may yet have a selfish ulterior motive.
"Seinfeld" Is Unfunny: Groundbreaking and popular thing fades into irrelevance due to many imitators or improving technology.
Selective Enforcement: Only enforcing a rule when you feel like it/for certain people.
Self-Made Orphan: A child kills their parents.
Senseless Sacrifice: That Heroic Sacrifice was in vain.
Sex Is Evil: Enough said.
Shoot the Dog: Doing morally questionable acts because it has to be done.
Shoot the Shaggy Dog: The hero's efforts are rendered pointless and/or they die.
Shut Up, Kirk!: The villain rejects The Hero's idealism and/or arguments.
Silly Rabbit, Idealism Is for Kids!: Who cares about that idealistic garbage? I grew up.
Silly Rabbit, Romance Is for Kids!: I grew up from that lovey-dovey nonsense.
Silly Reason for War: Going to war for absurdly trivial reasons.
Sink the Lifeboats: We've destroyed their vessel already, but we gotta kill the survivors too!
Sins of Our Fathers: People are punished for what their ancestors did.
Slut-Shaming: You had lots of sex? You're a whore!
The Social Darwinist: The strong survive, the weak perish, it's just the way things are.
Social Media Before Reason: Something big's happening? Lemme post it on the Web before doing anything logical!
Social Media Is Bad: Social media is a plague on society.
Soiled City on a Hill: A city that was destroyed because it was corrupt.
Sour Supporter: Works for a group of allies, but is doubtful.
Spared, but Not Forgiven: If you've done some wrong to someone, they may not retaliate but they'll never forget it or forgive you for it.
Staged Populist Uprising: That populist uprising is actually being led by someone who doesn't care about the people's cause, to fulfill their own selfish motives.
Star-Crossed Lovers: Try all they want, but these two are never going to be together.
Starter Marriage: First love rarely turns out like it's supposed to, and first marriage even more so.
Status Quo Is God: Don't bother changing things, kid. Sooner or later, everything will go back to the way it was. Can also be an idealism trope depending on the context.
Stockholm Syndrome: When a captive feels sympathy for their abductors.
"Stop Having Fun" Guys: You're not supposed to have fun! You're supposed to win!
Stopped Caring: Nothing matters to me anymore, and...whatever.
Straw Feminist: Portraying feminists as men-hating female supremacists.
Straw Hypocrite: We sure fooled those idiots into believing they are serving a good cause.
Straw Nihilist: Everything in life is meaningless.
Sucky School: This school is a terrible place.
Sudden Downer Ending: A bad ending that comes out of nowhere.
Suicide as Comedy: Oh, some people kill themselves? Ha! Aren't those losers funny?
Suicide Dare: Telling people to kill themselves.
Suicide Is Shameful: Wanting to kill yourself because life is unpleasant makes you weak, selfish, cowardly, and pathetic.
Taking Advantage of Generosity: People will take others' kindness for granted.
Tautological Templar: I know that I'm good, so everything I do is good too.
Teens Are Monsters: Teenagers are portrayed as cruel demons.
Teeth-Clenched Teamwork: Teamwork doesn't mean everyone gets along.
Then Let Me Be Evil: If people are gonna treat me like the bad guy, then so be it, I'll be the bad guy!
There Are No Good Executives: All executives are rotten to the core.
DarthWiki.This Exists: The cynical counterpart to the Sugar Wiki.
This Is Unforgivable!: There's no forgiveness for what you've done.
Thoughtcrime: Merely thinking subversively is enough to be a crime, even if you don't physically do anything.
Token Evil Teammate: You thought all these people fighting for a good cause are genuinely good? Well, this guy surely is not.
Too Good for This Sinful Earth: If you live in the Crapsack World, then chances are that you would not last long.
Too Happy to Live: Especially, if you become too happy, you are just asking to be killed.
Took a Level in Cynic: An optimistic character learns to be less trusting, generous, and caring, usually due to a betrayal.
Took a Level in Jerkass: A good-hearted character becomes mean-spirited over time.
Totalitarian Utilitarian: Leading an evil and destructive movement to bring happiness.
Tough Love: Apparently, making someone better requires you to treat them harshly.
Toxic Friend Influence: Friendship-induced naivety.
Transhuman Treachery: Uplifted people abuse their powers to oppress others, augmented or not.
Treachery Is a Special Kind of Evil: Treachery is the worst crime anyone can commit.
True Art Is Angsty: Your drawing of how life is all bright-colored and sweet is unrealistic and absurd! Real art needs to be dark, gloomy, and depressing!
True Love Is Boring: If the Official Couple get together, but the story continues, expect them to be broken up by the time we get back to them.
Troubled Teen: Occasionally, the troubled teen has a pessimistic outlook on life, which is why they act out.
The Unapologetic: I'm not sorry for ruining your pathetic life!
The Unfettered: I don't care about rules or morals! I'll do whatever it takes to get what I want!
Ungrateful Bastard: You really thought that person was gonna thank you for saving his life?
Ungrateful Townsfolk: Are these people even worth saving?
Upper-Class Twit: Rich people are complete idiots.
Unperson: We will erase your history and act as if you never existed.
Utopia Justifies the Means: What makes a better world? Making people suffer for their own good.
Vengeance Feels Empty: I've finally gotten my revenge... And yet, why doesn't this make me feel better?
Victim Blaming: You must have done something to deserve it!
Victory Is Boring: I won the battle. Now what?
Video Game Cruelty Potential: You think people play video games to be heroes? Nah.
Viewers Are Goldfish: We're gonna keep repeating this because the viewers are too simple-minded to remember!
Viewers Are Morons: My audience is stupid. I dumb down my material so their puny little minds can understand.
Vigilante Man: An individual who takes the law into their own hands.
Villain with Good Publicity: A villain who is popular among the general public while keeping his evil plans hidden.
Violence Is the Only Option: Don't want to truce? I'll kick your ass then.
Violence Really Is the Answer: The only way to solve this problem is by kicking someone's ass.
Virginity Makes You Stupid: Never having any sexual relations makes you a naive fool.
Virtue Is Weakness: Compassion, kindness, generosity, or any other moral virtue are for sissies.
Wangst: The minor issues of life are worth ranting about.
Wants a Prize for Basic Decency: You don't get a reward for doing/not doing something you're expected to do/not do in the first place.
War Is Hell: War is nothing but a hideous display of bloodshed, cruelty, and death.
Warts and All: Look, kid, there was more to the legendary heroes than what you heard. They had their shortcomings, just like you and me. Deal with it.
We ARE Struggling Together: Supposed allies spend more time fighting amongst each other than their enemy.
We Have Become Complacent: Society has become so used to peace it is unprepared for disaster or tragedy.
We Have Reserves: What do a few lives matter? We've got more soldiers!
Well-Intentioned Extremist: The extremist side. Utopia Justifies the Means, right? Can be idealism depending on how it's written.
- Not-So-Well-Intentioned Extremist: Someone who appears to do bad things for a good cause, but actually does it for selfish reasons.
We Used to Be Friends: Friendships don't last long.
What the Hell, Hero?: The Hero and/or the Anti-Hero gets called out for acting like a bad guy. Can also be an idealism trope depending on the handling.
Who Wants to Live Forever?: Immortality is horrible and depressing.
Why We Can't Have Nice Things: ...Because we'll just destroy them.
- Why Fandom Can't Have Nice Things: The creator is forced to take drastic measures against their Fan Dumb.
Why Did You Make Me Hit You?: Using violence to end an argument, then making the victim think they were responsible.
Wide-Eyed Idealist (as opposed to the more intelligent version)
Windmill Crusader: Someone who wastes their time fighting something that doesn't exist.
- Windmill Political: Someone who wastes their time fighting a political threat that doesn't exist.
Witch Hunt: The enemy is among us! We must find and destroy them all!
With Friends Like These...: You call these people friends? They're like enemies!
With Us or Against Us: You're either my friend or my enemy. There is no in between.
Witless Protection Program: Don't rely on Witness Protection, the program is an incompetent failure.
Won the War, Lost the Peace: We won the war, but there's still no peace in sight.
Working-Class People Are Morons: The proletariat is a bunch of idiots.
World Gone Mad: Everyone and everything has gone insane.
The World Is Always Doomed: There are many things in existence that could end the world in an instant.
World of Jerkass: The world is full of mean people.
World of Snark: The world is full of sarcastic people.
Worst News Judgment Ever: The news is more interested in publishing unimportant fluff than things people should actually be knowing.
Would Be Rude to Say "Genocide": Denying that genocide is a bad thing.
Would Harm a Senior: No qualms about using violence against one or more elderly people.
Would Hit a Girl: No qualms about using violence against women.
Would Hurt a Child: No qualms about using violence against children.
Wounded Gazelle Gambit: Tricking others by pretending to be a victim.
Wretched Hive: Life in this place is an absolute shithole.
Written by the Winners: Our reputation is more important than facts.
Yank the Dog's Chain: Good turns don't last, and something will inevitably come to take it away.
You Can Panic Now: Media plays up something that you should fear.
You Can't Fight Fate: You can't control your destiny.
You Can't Go Home Again: For some reason, you're not able to come back home.
You Can't Make an Omelette...: You can't achieve your goals without destroying something or someone. Pray you aren't that something or someone.
You Have Outlived Your Usefulness: You will be disposed of as soon as you're no longer useful to us.
Your Terrorists Are Our Freedom Fighters: Not everything is in black and white, kid. One man's hero is another man's villain.

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