negativism

[ neg-uh-ti-viz-uhm ]

noun

1. a negative or pessimistic attitude.
2. Psychology. a tendency to resist external commands, suggestions, or expectations, or internal stimuli, as hunger, by doing nothing or something contrary or unrelated to the stimulus.
3. any system of negative philosophy, as agnosticism or skepticism.

negativism

/ ˈnɛɡətɪvˌɪzəm /

noun

1. a tendency to be or a state of being unconstructively critical
2. any sceptical or derisive system of thought
3. psychiatry refusal to do what is expected or suggested or the tendency to do the opposite

Derived Forms

• ˈnegativist, nounadjective
• ˌnegativˈistic, adjective

Other Words From

• nega·tiv·ist noun
• nega·tiv·istic adjective
• non·nega·tiv·ism noun
• nonneg·a·tiv·istic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of negativism¹

First recorded in 1815–25; negative + -ism

Example Sentences

So we are stuck with him and must recognize even with all his hypocrisy and negativism toward Democratic policy he is better than a Republican.

From Washington Blade

“All he gets from Congress is negativism and carping,” says Dallek.

From The Daily Beast

It is enough to make Agnewesque nattering nabobs of negativism proud.

From The Daily Beast

Without it, the seeds of change and innovation will wither in a soil that is an arid mix of negativism and defeatism.

From The Daily Beast

This is an admission that negativism is of the nature of resistance.

From Project Gutenberg

Negativism is a state of persistent compulsion to contrary response to suggestion.

From Project Gutenberg

The negativism and refusal to go to stool are the outcome of the nervous unrest, not its cause.

From Project Gutenberg

Fretfulness and negativism with all children whose management is at fault come in waves and cycles.

From Project Gutenberg

Thus the mother of the child in whom defæcation is inhibited by negativism may have made further observations.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• action
• hostility
• resistance
• struggle