Synonyms

pessimistic

American

[pes-uh-mis-tik] / ˌpɛs əˈmɪs tɪk /

adjective

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

Related Words

See cynical.

Other Word Forms

nonpessimistic adjective
nonpessimistically adverb
overpessimistic adjective
overpessimistically adverb
pessimistically adverb
unpessimistic adjective
unpessimistically adverb

Etymology

Origin of pessimistic

First recorded in 1865–70; pessimist + -ic

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.

“At the end of last year, 80% of Venezuelans were pessimistic about the future,” says Angel Alvarado, a former opposition lawmaker now at the University of Pennsylvania.

From Barron's

You also probably shouldn’t do the opposite and sell, or rush to buy protection, at this pessimistic juncture.

From The Wall Street Journal

For many middle-class families, the shift feels practical rather than pessimistic.

From MarketWatch

The biggest thing that keeps me bullish at this point is that Main Street confidence is in the tank, and major players in the private sector are pessimistic and cautious.

From Barron's

Many Americans, especially swing voters, are pessimistic about the economy.

From The Wall Street Journal

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