pessimism
Americannoun
-
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.
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
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of pessimism
First recorded in 1785–95; from Latin pessim(us) “worst” (suppletive superlative of malus “bad”) + -ism; modeled on optimism ( def. )
Explanation
Pessimism means thinking the worst. It's the opposite of optimism, which means assuming the best. Most people feel that too much pessimism is paralyzing — who will ever try anything if they are always sure they will fail? Pessimism comes in two flavors. With one, you feel that something bad will happen. You feel pessimistic about the geometry final. How will you pass it? Pessimism is also the tendency to expect the worst in everything. A pessimist in love is a person sure that there must be something wrong with the person to love them back. A pessimist on an airplane is sure the plane is missing some essential part that won't be noticed until it plummets from the sky. Can pessimism be fun? Not really ever.
Vocabulary lists containing pessimism
Artemis Fowl
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Promises to Keep
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Vocabulary Video Contest (2013) - List 1
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
U.S. tech futures jumped after Nvidia’s bumper earnings and software shares surged premarket after earnings quieted investor pessimism on the sector.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 27, 2026
It follows an Air Force statement on Monday urging the media not to write "sensationalised headlines" or "spread pessimism" about the shortage of air defence interceptors.
From BBC ● Aug. 11, 2026
Readings below 41.5 indicate extreme pessimism, while readings above 62.5 signal excessive optimism.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 4, 2026
Big inflows represent excessive optimism, just as big outflows represent excessive pessimism — and the market tends to do the opposite of extreme sentiment.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 28, 2026
Now they were demanding monthly and even fortnightly reports, and pestered him constantly about the wisdom of his pessimism.
From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis
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.
