as in hopeless
emphasizing or expecting the worst
your defeatist attitude is depressing everyone else on the team!
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in realist
one who emphasizes bad aspects or conditions and expects the worst
we told her that if she was going to be such a defeatist, she should keep her thoughts to herself
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defeatist
Adjective
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Is there a way out of our divided country’s seemingly hopeless predicament?—
Jackie Strause,
The Hollywood Reporter,
25 Feb. 2025 -
People who find themselves in financial trouble sometimes consider taking drastic measures when their situation appears hopeless.—
Paulette Perhach,
New York Times,
23 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Even before Israel began its genocidal campaign in Gaza, a Biden Administration policy based on realist internationalism would have respected the desire of a great majority of countries (including U.S. allies) for the United States to return to the original Iran nuclear deal.—
Anatol Lieven,
Harper's Magazine,
19 Feb. 2025
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The vivid, realist stories depict 1980s South Korea during the oppressive military dictatorship of President Chun Doo-hwan; over each hangs the shadow of the Gwangju massacre, in which hundreds or more protesting Chun’s power grab were brutally killed.—
Camille Bromley,
New York Times,
17 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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It’s packed with tough love, cathartic activities, and positive affirmations that won’t leave cynical folks rolling their eyes.—
Kristin Canning,
SELF,
25 Feb. 2025
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It’s been cool and cynical, surreal and silly, bold enough to make adolescents of all ages feel daring for staying up past 11:30 (or catching up on YouTube the next morning) and safe enough to keep advertisers and network executives happy.—
A.O. Scott,
New York Times,
12 Feb. 2025
Noun
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All one needs is to read the headlines today, 45 years down the road, to see that sometimes cynics have a point.—
George Monastiriakos,
Newsweek,
30 Dec. 2024
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The cynics say the wildfires are the death knell of the film business.—
Todd Heyman,
The Hollywood Reporter,
3 Sep. 2019
Adjective
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Germans are more pessimistic about their living standards now than at any time since the financial crisis in 2008.—
Sarah Marsh and Matthias Williams,
USA TODAY,
24 Feb. 2025
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Jones: Welcome back to pessimistic predictions with Andy Jones!—
Sam Lee,
The Athletic,
22 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Optimists tend to live longer and have healthier lives than pessimists according to numerous research studies.—
Contributed Content,
Twin Cities,
7 Feb. 2025
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Those eight additions will remedy last season’s injury woes, but for pessimists, the jury is out as to whether Villa’s best XI has actually been upgraded.—
Jacob Tanswell,
The Athletic,
7 Aug. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Defeatist.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defeatist. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
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