sanguine

[ sang-gwin ]

adjective

1. cheerfully optimistic, sometimes to the point of seeming complacent, oblivious, or naive:

   a sanguine disposition;

   sanguine expectations.

   Synonyms: optimistic, hopeful, confident, cheerful, buoyant, assured, positive

   Antonyms: morose

2. reddish; ruddy:

   a sanguine complexion.

3. (in old physiology) having blood as the predominating humor and consequently being ruddy-faced, cheerful, etc.
4. bloody; sanguinary.
5. blood-red; red.
6. Heraldry. a reddish-purple tincture.

noun

1. a red iron-oxide crayon used in making drawings.

sanguine

/ ˈsæŋɡwɪn /

adjective

1. cheerful and confident; optimistic
2. (esp of the complexion) ruddy in appearance
3. blood-red
4. See sanguinary
   an obsolete word for sanguinary

noun

1. Also calledred chalk a red pencil containing ferric oxide, used in drawing

Derived Forms

• ˈsanguineness, noun
• ˈsanguinely, adverb

Other Words From

• san·guine·ly adverb
• san·guin·i·ty [sang-, gwin, -i-tee], san·guin·ness noun
• non·san·guine adjective
• non·san·guine·ly adverb
• non·san·guine·ness noun
• o·ver·san·guine adjective
• o·ver·san·guine·ly adverb
• o·ver·san·guine·ness noun
• pre·san·guine adjective
• qua·si-san·guine adjective
• qua·si-san·guine·ly adverb
• su·per·san·guine adjective
• su·per·san·guin·i·ty noun
• un·san·guine adjective
• un·san·guine·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of sanguine¹

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English sanguyne “a blood-red cloth,” from Old French sanguin, from Latin sanguineus “bloody,” equivalent to sanguin-, stem of sanguis “blood” + -eus -eous

Word History and Origins

Origin of sanguine¹

C14: from Latin sanguineus bloody, from sanguis blood

Example Sentences

Finally, NukkAI cofounder, Jean-Baptiste Fantun, said he was confident the machine would prevail over thousands of deals, but was less sanguine about its prospects over just 800.

From Singularity Hub 

Over the last week, all-consuming pessimism among investors has quickly given way to sanguine optimism.

From Time

If, at any point, COP26 participants feel too sanguine about these difficulties, they need only look at the country hosting them, and at the debates swirling around its own crisis of energy.

From Quartz

It’s possible with MainStreet’s platform for economic development incentivesReeves was sanguine about the attention the space is garnering and the potential competition for Ardius.

From TechCrunch

The experience left them sanguine about the sometimes vitriolic opinions of strangers on the Internet.

From The Daily Beast

She is equally desirous of Levine, as animalistic and eager to consume him while sticky with sanguine fluid.

From The Daily Beast

That said, I am not as sanguine about the future of the U.S.-Egypt bilateral relationship.

From The Daily Beast

These days, seven years after his book was published, Thomas is a bit more sanguine about his early life.

From The Daily Beast

A senior government minister in Kabul is more sanguine about the possibility of eventually restarting peace talks.

From The Daily Beast

I leave Italy with a less sanguine hope of her speedy liberation than I brought into it.

From Project Gutenberg

But I feel sanguine in the spirit of the men; sanguine in my own spirit; sanguine in the soundness of my scheme.

From Project Gutenberg

Parliament is often more easily persuaded than the shrewd investor, as many a too sanguine promoter knows.

From Project Gutenberg

This fearful war was a deathblow to your father's sanguine hopes of making a rapid fortune.

From Project Gutenberg

I really believe that is a good story, Jess, said her mother, who was sanguine of temperament.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• buoyant
• cheerful
• confident
• enthusiastic
• hopeful
• upbeat