i think #realism can be defined as nothing more than #idealism shaped by experience
you still aim to the good goal
but now you know the road is not simple
so you continue towards the good goal, but you get there with the tools that adversity taught you, which can be called #cynicism
cynicism (as a personality, not as a tool as you say and i agree) is sitting down on the side of the road and giving up. cynicism as a personality is giving in to adversity, a failure mode