pessimist
Americannoun
-
a person who habitually sees or anticipates the worst or is disposed to be gloomy.
-
an adherent of the doctrine of pessimism.
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of pessimist
First recorded in 1830–40; pessim(ism) + -ist
Explanation
If the world can be divided into those who see the glass half empty and those who see the glass half full, the half-empty crew are known as pessimists––they always see the worst. The opposite of pessimist is optimist––someone who always sees thing in a positive light. Most people insist they are optimists, and when accused of pessimism suggest they're only focusing on reality. In fact, though, people who see reality as it is are called "realists."
Vocabulary lists containing pessimist
"The Great Gatsby," Chapter 1 Vocabulary
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Body Language: Ped, Pod ("Foot")
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Crenshaw
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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.
Whether you are an A.I. optimist or pessimist, you’d ideally agree that few industries have ever screamed out more for intense scrutiny at a particular moment than generative A.I. does right now.
From Slate • Apr. 7, 2026
One I heard while working as a journalist in Moscow in the early 1980s: “A pessimist is a well-informed optimist.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 6, 2026
A pessimist, however, would look and see the need for careful risk management.
From Barron's • Oct. 23, 2025
“My advice is simple: Plan like a pessimist and travel like an optimist,” he said.
From MarketWatch • Oct. 8, 2025
A moral pessimist, von Wright questioned whether the material and technological advances of modern society could really be considered “progress” at all.
From "Endgame" by Frank Brady
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.
