cynical vs mordant

cynical

adj
  • Bitterly or jadedly distrustful or contemptuous; mocking. 

  • Of or relating to the belief that human actions are motivated only or primarily by base desires or selfishness. 

  • Like the actions of a snarling dog, especially in reference to facial nerve paralysis. 

  • Showing contempt for accepted moral standards by one's actions. 

  • Skeptical of the integrity, sincerity, or motives of others. 

mordant

adj
  • Having or showing a sharp or critical quality 

  • Serving to fix a dye to a fibre. 

noun
  • A glutinous size used as a ground for gilding, to make the gold leaf adhere. 

  • Any substance used to facilitate the fixing of a dye to a fibre; usually a metallic compound which reacts with the dye using chelation. 

  • Any corrosive substance used in etching. 

verb
  • To subject to the action of, or imbue with, a mordant. 

How often have the words cynical and mordant occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )