1
as in cynic
one who emphasizes bad aspects or conditions and expects the worst
she's such a pessimist that she's convinced she'll fail every test
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2
as in misanthrope
a person who distrusts other people and believes that everything is done for selfish reasons
a true pessimist, he's convinced that there will be wars as long as there are people to wage them
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Recent Examples of pessimist
To the pessimists among them, Hollywood’s most personal profession has lost its human touch.
—
Nate Jones, Vulture, 6 June 2025
But that doesn’t stop a chorus of pessimists from emerging amid periods of market volatility.
—Luke Andriuk, Forbes.com, 14 May 2025
In contrast, pessimists often miss opportunities by holding cash.
—Michael Khouw, CNBC, 14 Apr. 2025
The power basketball conferences have dominated, and because power means football, and football means money, specifically more NIL money to use as tokens for players to use the NCAA transfer portal, pessimists see the mid-majors such as San Diego State on life support.
—Nick Canepa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pessimist
Nate Jones, Vulture, 6 June 2025
But that doesn’t stop a chorus of pessimists from emerging amid periods of market volatility.
—Luke Andriuk, Forbes.com, 14 May 2025
In contrast, pessimists often miss opportunities by holding cash.
—Michael Khouw, CNBC, 14 Apr. 2025
The power basketball conferences have dominated, and because power means football, and football means money, specifically more NIL money to use as tokens for players to use the NCAA transfer portal, pessimists see the mid-majors such as San Diego State on life support.
—Nick Canepa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pessimist
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pessimist
Noun
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Put the kibosh on quiet cracking, those cynics insist.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
18 Aug. 2025
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Travis Kelce knows what the cynics might think of his relationship with Taylor Swift — two of the most famous people in America just happen to match up perfectly?—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
12 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Ever the geopolitical realist, the Chinese president will know Modi’s presence at his banquet was opportunistic at best, and doesn’t indicate the start of a beautiful friendship.—
Bobby Ghosh,
Time,
2 Sep. 2025
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Even John Mearsheimer, the leading realist voice on Ukraine, concedes these demands are non-negotiable—but deeply unacceptable to Kyiv and its allies.—
Gordon G. Chang,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pessimist.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pessimist. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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