pessimism
noun
the tendency to see, anticipate, or emphasize only bad or undesirable outcomes, results, conditions, problems, etc..
pessimistically
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a word derived from
pessimism.
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a word derived from
pessimistic.
pessimisticadjectivepertaining to or characterized by pessimism or the tendency to expect only bad outcomes; gloomy; joyless; unhopeful.
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.
Today’s lower numbers aren’t evidence that we lack faith in true love’s existence – though that’s pessimistically prevalent these days among singles – but of wedding-driven reality TV’s expansion.
From Salon ● Jan. 5, 2024
Let’s pessimistically assume that we are still in the worst timeline, and Pangaea Ultima is a truly infernal place.
From Scientific American ● Oct. 17, 2023
The Mariners manager wasn’t trying to be pessimistically prescient or trying to hedge future failure.
From Seattle Times ● Sep. 5, 2023
The event was sparsely attended, but Kobach spoke pessimistically to those who had come with passion.
From New York Times ● Jun. 13, 2017
It was to a Morgan Wallifarro unaccustomedly pale and agitated that the same lady, who had pessimistically forecast Anne's future, gave him, on his arrival at home, what information she could.
From The Tempering by Charles Neville Buck
