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Synonyms

defeatism

American  
[dih-fee-tiz-uhm] / dɪˈfi tɪz əm /

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 British  
/ dɪˈfiːtɪzəm /

noun

  1. a ready acceptance or expectation of defeat

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • defeatist noun

Etymology

Origin of defeatism

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

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

But the smallness and lockstep defeatism of so much commentary on the war also stems from the normal human tendency to interpret today’s big thing as another version of yesterday’s.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026

It may be tempting to slide into defeatism.

From Slate • Jan. 23, 2026

And he slammed cadres who for "too long been accustomed to defeatism, irresponsibility and passiveness".

From Barron's • Jan. 20, 2026

“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.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 3, 2025

“I don’t think defeatism is honest,” Dad answered.

From "The Fault in Our Stars" by John Green

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.