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

Other Word Forms

• defeatist noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of defeatism¹

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

Example Sentences

“I think there’s a lot of negative polarization at play — an expression of defeatism or disenfranchisement at the fact that status quo politicians aren’t addressing young men’s problems.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

That approach displayed timidity, pessimism, defeatism, and lack of self-confidence, which is why Trump was clobbering Biden in the polls even prior to voters realizing the extent of Biden’s weakness during his debate with Trump.

Read more on Salon

Russian hardliners, the so-called "Z" bloggers, are furious at such "defeatism".

Read more on BBC

Addressing supporters in his Newark constituency, he said the party should reject "defeatism" but also needed to be "grounded in realism".

Read more on BBC

As much as we have argued against despair and defeatism, climate activists who have grown skeptical and cynical about the COP framework have every right to be disillusioned with the process.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• capitulation 
• resignation