pessimistic

[ pes-uh-mis-tik ]

adjective

1. pertaining to or characterized by pessimism or the tendency to expect only bad outcomes; gloomy; joyless; unhopeful:

   His pessimistic outlook kept him from applying for jobs for which he was perfectly qualified.

   Synonyms: hopeless, despairing

Other Words From

• pessi·misti·cal·ly adverb
• nonpes·si·mistic adjective
• nonpes·si·misti·cal·ly adverb
• over·pessi·mistic adjective
• over·pessi·misti·cal·ly adverb
• unpes·si·mistic adjective
• unpes·si·misti·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of pessimistic¹

First recorded in 1865–70; pessimist + -ic

Synonym Study

See cynical.

Example Sentences

Being unhopeful about climate change is so unpopular that I myself, an environment-focused journalist, am fearful of publicly admitting my own pessimistic outlook.

From Salon

A pessimistic or even nihilistic point of view can cause you to doom spend.

From Salon

Three years after the first series aired, Hwang is even more pessimistic about the state of the world.

From BBC

There are increasingly a lot of nerves in the room, with some saying privately they’re feeling “very pessimistic”.

From BBC

I am very pessimistic about the prospects of de-escalation… most likely the perception within the Israel Defence Forces and at the political level within Netanayhu's war cabinet is that they have the momentum.

From BBC

Related Words

• bleak
• depressed
• despondent
• discouraged
• fatalistic
• gloomy
• glum
• sad