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

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

A pessimistic view is that uninformed voters will fall for the idea that Trump is “pro-choice”—even though he nominated the justice who replaced RBG, creating the fifth vote to overturn Roe.

From Slate

But witnessing the rapid exit of so many donors over what she felt were defensible statements has given her a more pessimistic outlook on building sustainable support for progressive causes.

From Slate

A few days later, during a meeting with Trump, Pence, and their campaign staff, attorneys offered a “somewhat pessimistic report on the state of election challenges.”

From Slate

Related Words

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