I avoid getting back into bother - being a cynic (9)

I believe the answer is:

pessimist

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'cynic' is the definition.
(thesaurus)

I don't understand how the rest of the clue works.

(Other definitions for pessimist that I've seen before include "Glass-half-empty person" , "One sees the glass as always being half-empty" , "One expects the worst" , "Half-empty-glass person" , "The glass is always half-empty for this type" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish Times.

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