pessimism
[ pes-uh-miz-uh m ]
/ ˈpɛs əˌmɪz əm /
noun
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.
the doctrine that the existing world is the worst of all possible worlds, or that all things naturally tend to evil.
the belief that the evil and pain in the world are not compensated for by goodness and happiness.
RELATED WORDS
Nearby words
peshitta, pesky, peso, peso boliviano, pessary, pessimism, pessimist, pessimistic, pessoa, pest, pest house
Origin of pessimism
Related forms
o·ver·pes·si·mism, nounDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for pessimism
British Dictionary definitions for pessimism
pessimism
/ (ˈpɛsɪˌmɪzəm) /
noun
the tendency to expect the worst and see the worst in all things
the doctrine of the ultimate triumph of evil over good
the doctrine that this world is corrupt and that man's sojourn in it is a preparation for some other existence
Derived Forms
pessimist, nounpessimistic or rare pessimistical, adjectivepessimistically, adverbWord Origin for pessimism
C18: from Latin pessimus worst, from malus bad
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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