pessimism

[ pes-uh-miz-uhm ]
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noun
  1. 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.

  2. the doctrine that the existing world is the worst of all possible worlds, or that all things naturally tend to evil.

  1. the belief that the evil and pain in the world are not compensated for by goodness and happiness.

Origin of pessimism

1
First recorded in 1785–95; from Latin pessim(us) “worst” (suppletive superlative of malus “bad”) + -ism; modeled on optimism

Other words from pessimism

  • o·ver·pes·si·mism, noun

Words Nearby pessimism

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How to use pessimism in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for pessimism

pessimism

/ (ˈpɛsɪˌmɪzəm) /


noun
  1. the tendency to expect the worst and see the worst in all things

  2. the doctrine of the ultimate triumph of evil over good

  1. the doctrine that this world is corrupt and that man's sojourn in it is a preparation for some other existence

Origin of pessimism

1
C18: from Latin pessimus worst, from malus bad

Derived forms of pessimism

  • pessimist, noun
  • pessimistic or rare pessimistical, adjective
  • pessimistically, adverb

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