pessimism
Americannoun
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the tendency to see, anticipate, or emphasize only bad or undesirable outcomes, results, conditions, problems, etc..
His pessimism about the future of our country depresses me.
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the doctrine that the existing world is the worst of all possible worlds, or that all things naturally tend to evil.
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the belief that the evil and pain in the world are not compensated for by goodness and happiness.
noun
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the tendency to expect the worst and see the worst in all things
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the doctrine of the ultimate triumph of evil over good
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the doctrine that this world is corrupt and that man's sojourn in it is a preparation for some other existence
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of pessimism
First recorded in 1785–95; from Latin pessim(us) “worst” (suppletive superlative of malus “bad”) + -ism; modeled on optimism ( def. )
Explanation
Pessimism means thinking the worst. It's the opposite of optimism, which means assuming the best. Most people feel that too much pessimism is paralyzing — who will ever try anything if they are always sure they will fail? Pessimism comes in two flavors. With one, you feel that something bad will happen. You feel pessimistic about the geometry final. How will you pass it? Pessimism is also the tendency to expect the worst in everything. A pessimist in love is a person sure that there must be something wrong with the person to love them back. A pessimist on an airplane is sure the plane is missing some essential part that won't be noticed until it plummets from the sky. Can pessimism be fun? Not really ever.
Vocabulary lists containing pessimism
Artemis Fowl
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Promises to Keep
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Vocabulary Video Contest (2013) - List 1
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“Although we expect a record year of issuance in 2026, we view that supply as a risk rather than a reason for pessimism, and expect corporate equity demand will outweigh supply this year,” they said.
From MarketWatch • May 27, 2026
Back then, some interesting questions in Michigan’s broader survey, beyond the index, didn’t show such extreme pessimism.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 22, 2026
None of this will cure the malaise and pessimism rotting the economy from the inside.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 19, 2026
Even in the face of continued pessimism from energy analysts, transportation exports, and geopolitical strategists, stocks rose on Tuesday.
From Barron's • Apr. 14, 2026
There was no counterbalance to stagnation, to pessimism, to the most abject surrenders to mysticism.
From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
