Might be a culture thing. If I search for the definition of Cynisme, which is cynicism in Dutch, I get (translated) Cynicism is an attitude that results from a bitter or painful disbelief in the sincerity or good intentions of the people. That attitude is expressed in a shameless insensitive manner, for example with bitter, cruel humor or sarcasm.

If I search for cynicism I get Cynicism is an attitude or state of mind characterized by a general distrust of others’ motives. A cynic may have a general lack of faith or hope in the human species or people motivated by ambition, desire, greed, gratification, materialism, goals, and opinions that a cynic perceives as vain, unobtainable, or ultimately meaningless and therefore deserving of ridicule or admonishment.

So while it’s almost the same, it seems to me the Dutch focus more on the humor side of it. In fact the first I learned of the word at school, it was a lesson on different types of humor.