pessimistic
Americanadjective
Synonym Usage
See cynical.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of pessimistic
Explanation
Pessimistic describes the state of mind of someone who always expects the worst. A pessimistic attitude isn't very hopeful, shows little optimism, and can be a downer for everyone else. To be pessimistic means you believe evil outweighs the good and that bad things are more likely to happen. So pessimistic people are usually pretty negative. And kind of a bummer to be around. Think of Eeyore, Winnie the Pooh's perpetually gloomy friend. The word comes to us, not surprisingly, from the Latin pessimus — meaning "worst."
Vocabulary lists containing pessimistic
The SAT: Words to Capture Tone, List 1
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ACT Reading Test: Words to Capture Tone, List 1
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The New SAT: Words to Capture Tone
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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.
In 2025, the Chinese government launched a separate two-month campaign against online content that was deemed to take "pessimistic sentiments" too far.
From BBC • Jun. 5, 2026
“Everyone is pessimistic about dating and under the illusion that they have unlimited options,” he says.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 3, 2026
A separate Economist/YouGov poll found that 51 percent of U.S. adult citizens are pessimistic about the long-term effects of A.I. while just 25 percent are optimistic.
From Slate • Jun. 2, 2026
People are too pessimistic about how others will respond when they reach out to connect with them.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 29, 2026
He was a generally pessimistic person, but he seemed to make an exception for Katherines: he always felt they would come back to him.
From "An Abundance of Katherines" by John Green
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.
