pessimism

[pes-uh-miz-uhm]

noun

1. the tendency to see, anticipate, or emphasize only bad or undesirable outcomes, results, conditions, problems, etc..

   His pessimism about the future of our country depresses me.

2. the doctrine that the existing world is the worst of all possible worlds, or that all things naturally tend to evil.

3. the belief that the evil and pain in the world are not compensated for by goodness and happiness.

pessimism

/ ˈpɛsɪˌmɪzəm /

noun

1. the tendency to expect the worst and see the worst in all things

2. the doctrine of the ultimate triumph of evil over good

3. the doctrine that this world is corrupt and that man's sojourn in it is a preparation for some other existence

Other Word Forms

• overpessimism noun
• pessimistic adjective
• pessimist noun
• pessimistically adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of pessimism¹

First recorded in 1785–95; from Latin pessim(us) “worst” (suppletive superlative of malus “bad”) + -ism; modeled on optimism ( def. )

Word History and Origins

Origin of pessimism¹

C18: from Latin pessimus worst, from malus bad

Example Sentences

He views the NLRB’s future with “the greatest pessimism,” he says.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“It would be wrong to look at AI in terms of optimism or pessimism,” he says.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

What is unusual about this campaign against pessimism is that it seems to target a range of online behaviour that could create or add to a sense of negativity.

Read more on BBC

Indeed, the infectious enthusiasm of the US tech giants about Britain jarred with the more general air of pessimism floating around the country.

Read more on BBC

However, reports on Wednesday reflected their growing pessimism, with the suggestion that it might not have been as successful as they had thought.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• cynicism 
• despair 
• distrust 
• gloom 
• grief 
• hopelessness 
• melancholy 
• sadness 
• unhappiness www.thesaurus.com