1
as in hopeless
emphasizing or expecting the worst
with that pessimistic attitude, it's no wonder you're depressed
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in cynical
having or showing a deep distrust of human beings and their motives
pessimistic about the prospects for a lasting peace in the area
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Recent Examples of pessimistic
As the world seeks to understand Superman's motives and intentions, he's forced to reconcile his abilities to do good with an overall pessimistic view of his presence.
—
Devonne Goode, Parents, 11 July 2025
Japanese trade negotiators, who just weeks ago were scrambling to lay the groundwork for an announcement by last month’s Group of Seven summit, have delivered far more pessimistic messages in their public statements in recent days.
—Phil Mattingly, CNN Money, 9 July 2025
Businesses have felt pessimistic since at least March.
—Matthew Medsger, Boston Herald, 7 July 2025
Meanwhile, voters are pessimistic about the country's trajectory.
—Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for pessimistic
Devonne Goode, Parents, 11 July 2025
Japanese trade negotiators, who just weeks ago were scrambling to lay the groundwork for an announcement by last month’s Group of Seven summit, have delivered far more pessimistic messages in their public statements in recent days.
—Phil Mattingly, CNN Money, 9 July 2025
Businesses have felt pessimistic since at least March.
—Matthew Medsger, Boston Herald, 7 July 2025
Meanwhile, voters are pessimistic about the country's trajectory.
—Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for pessimistic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pessimistic
Adjective
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Measures included depression using the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression scale (CES-D), blood tests for 76 inflammatory biomarkers, and symptoms broken down into cognitive-affective (e.g., feeling hopeless), somatic (e.g., poor sleep, fatigue), and anhedonia (loss of pleasure) clusters.—
Paul McClure
August 09,
New Atlas,
9 Aug. 2025
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Amid the callous acts and hopeless rage of these kids—who are resourceful enough to orchestrate a high-speed heist but too disaffected for much else—a supernatural eeriness surfaces through word of mysterious lights in the sky and missing citizens.—
Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
7 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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That was a shameful, cynical act of political cowardice and corruption.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
12 Aug. 2025
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Home games were a communally happy experience instead of one in which 40,000 people were conditioned to expect the most cynical outcome possible.—
Jerry Beach,
Forbes.com,
12 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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At these meetings, all manner of data were discussed and analyzed, resulting in strategies to combat negative trends.—
Graham Rayman,
New York Daily News,
15 Aug. 2025
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The approval margin reached its most negative on April 29 at -7.2 percentage points, which fell around Trump's 100-day mark.—
Marina Johnson,
Louisville Courier Journal,
15 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pessimistic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pessimistic. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
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