pessimistic
Americanadjective
Related Words
See cynical.
Other Word Forms
- nonpessimistic adjective
- nonpessimistically adverb
- overpessimistic adjective
- overpessimistically adverb
- pessimistically adverb
- unpessimistic adjective
- unpessimistically adverb
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.
Of the changes Lampard has driven, none have been bigger than shifting the pessimistic Sky Blue thinking.
From BBC • Apr. 17, 2026
He didn’t want to overstate that finding, especially since about half of people reported being pessimistic about their future, but he hopes people can capitalize on that optimism.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 16, 2026
Retail investors, meanwhile, remain pessimistic about where the stock market is headed over the next six months, based on the most recent sentiment survey from the American Association of Individual Investors.
From Barron's • Apr. 10, 2026
So there was no contrarian buy signal — defined as timers being more pessimistic than on at least 90% of prior trading sessions.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 9, 2026
How did the bet perform, for instance, using the assumption of losses generated by the most pessimistic Wall Street analyst?
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.
