defeatism

[ dih-fee-tiz-uhm ]

noun

1. the attitude, policy, or conduct of a person who admits, expects, or no longer resists defeat, as because of a conviction that further struggle or effort is futile; pessimistic resignation.

defeatism

/ dɪˈfiːtɪzəm /

noun

1. a ready acceptance or expectation of defeat

Derived Forms

• deˈfeatist, nounadjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of defeatism¹

1915–20; defeat + -ism, modeled on French défaitisme

Example Sentences

Defeatism is easy, but it’s an abdication of responsibility and it won’t get us anywhere.

From Time

It is a third way that avoids both complacency and defeatism, and we should wear the term with pride.

From MIT Technology Review

In 1970, Paul Ehrlich reinforced the defeatism, saying that in a few years “further efforts will be futile” and “you may as well look after yourself and your friends and enjoy what little time you have left.”

From MIT Technology Review

I worry there’s a sense of defeatism or giving up on the South, but this is simply not an option.

From The Daily Beast

The post-dinner conversations of staffers and policy-makers was seamed with shame, and even defeatism.

From The Daily Beast

Third, pulling out before any real efforts have been tried sends a message of hopelessness and defeatism more than anything else.

From The Daily Beast

It was a country that had succumbed to paralysis and defeatism and nostalgia.

From The Daily Beast

It seems at this point that dysfunction and defeatism are institutionally baked into the culture of the team.

From The Daily Beast

For decades since, Britain has exercised its political resentments in the defeatism of the sporting field.

From The Daily Beast

One of the troubles in dealing with any problem is routing defeatism and hopelessness.

From Project Gutenberg

But not because of any anti-life attitude, or pessimism, or defeatism.

From Project Gutenberg

Some in our midst have sought to instill a feeling of fear and defeatism in the minds of the American people about this problem.

From Project Gutenberg

To face the task of finding jobs faster than invention can take them away--is not defeatism.

From Project Gutenberg

The army was demoralized and saturated with the defeatism preached by the Porazhentsi.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• capitulation
• resignation