pessimize

American  

[pes-uh-mahyz] / ˈpɛs əˌmaɪz /

verb (used with object)

pessimized, pessimizing

1. to make less good, efficient, fast, functional, etc., especially in the context of computers or information technology.

   Optimizing components in isolation tends to pessimize the whole system—and hence the bottom line. Adding this feature pessimized the run time by 13 percent.

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verb (used without object)

pessimized, pessimizing

1. to be pessimistic or utter pessimistic views about something.

   He pessimized loud and long over alleged rising crime rates.

Other Word Forms

• pessimization noun

Etymology

Origin of pessimize

First recorded in 1860–65; from Latin pessim(um) “worst” + -ize ( def. ), modeled on optimize ( def. )