as in desperation
a feeling or belief that bad things will happen in the future; a feeling or belief that what you hope for will not happen
She has expressed pessimism over the outcome of the trial. Although the economy shows signs of improving, a sense of pessimism remains. He expressed his pessimism about politics and politicians.
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pessimism
In addition to the general pessimism, the outlook for the stock market slid sharply, with just 37.4% of respondents expecting higher equity prices in the next year.
—
Jeff Cox, CNBC, 25 Mar. 2025
Consumers' pessimism is raising fears about the economy's health, even as official government indicators suggest healthy conditions.
—Courtenay Brown, Axios, 25 Mar. 2025
That pessimism is permeating across Washington’s diplomatic community.
—Philip Elliott, TIME, 11 Mar. 2025
Historically, such pessimism has signaled buying opportunities.
—Dan Irvine, Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pessimism
Jeff Cox, CNBC, 25 Mar. 2025
Consumers' pessimism is raising fears about the economy's health, even as official government indicators suggest healthy conditions.
—Courtenay Brown, Axios, 25 Mar. 2025
That pessimism is permeating across Washington’s diplomatic community.
—Philip Elliott, TIME, 11 Mar. 2025
Historically, such pessimism has signaled buying opportunities.
—Dan Irvine, Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pessimism
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pessimism
Noun
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Their primary motivation for entering tentative talks over Gomez was desperation, due to their need to comply with the Premier League’s PSR by June 30.—
Chris Waugh,
New York Times,
28 Mar. 2025
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The White House has responded with a series of stunts — a live presidential endorsement on the South Lawn, the commerce secretary shilling for Tesla stock on Fox News, the FBI threatening vandals with terrorism charges — that all smack of desperation.—
Allison Morrow,
CNN,
25 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Joe, a firefighter in real life, happily obliged but was no longer on the same tribe as Eva at her moment of despair.—
Marc Berman,
Forbes.com,
31 Mar. 2025
-
As the team left last weekend, there wasn’t a sense of despair.—
Cameron Teague Robinson,
New York Times,
27 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The book, which spans the twenty-odd years of Mii’s life, describes the daily joys and intimacies of having a pet, the difficulties that come with an aging cat, and the sorrows of outliving one’s animal companion.—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
31 Mar. 2025
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Tomorrow is the day this profound sorrow renews my motivation.—
Bluesky Social,
Bluesky Social,
31 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Others predicted the federal government will remain a major employer locally and cautioned against premature doom and gloom.—
Jonathan Shorman and,
Kansas City Star,
19 Mar. 2025
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Shear acquits himself well with Sam’s starstruck regard of this famous and beautiful creature who’s inexplicably taken an interest in him, and then with his gloom when things go sour.—
Angie Han,
The Hollywood Reporter,
12 Mar. 2025
Noun
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After addressing changes in his diet, Williams said, his health and depression became manageable.—
Alli Rosenbloom,
CNN Money,
8 Apr. 2025
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The series builds a lot of sympathy for the showcased players, especially Duran, who is uncomfortably open recalling the pressure his father — who admits to some regrets as well — put on him and talking about his struggles with depression.—
Daniel Fienberg,
HollywoodReporter,
8 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Both were full of CGI sewage, to be clear, but their askew angles on theme-park IP reflected real cynicism around core tenets of the princess narrative.—
Darren Franich,
Vulture,
26 Mar. 2025
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That approach is far more likely to yield cynicism than serious climate progress.—
U T Editorial Board,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
21 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Watching Thief, yes, we’re naturally mesmerized by its nocturnal compositions, its lovely sense of melancholy, its almost abstract robbery sequences filled with sparks and flames bursting off steel vaults.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
27 Mar. 2025
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Japanese Breakfast's Michelle Zauner embraces melancholy in new album The music of the indie rock band Japanese Breakfast is suffused with longing.—
NPR Staff,
NPR,
22 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pessimism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pessimism. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.
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