1
as in hopeless
emphasizing or expecting the worst
with that pessimistic attitude, it's no wonder you're depressed
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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
The Trump administration, however, had a more pessimistic view, pointing to an annual benchmark revision released Friday showing there were 589,000 fewer jobs added to the economy in 2024 than previously tallied.
—
Bryan Mena, CNN, 7 Feb. 2025
The most pessimistic years have been the last two, when it was set at 90 seconds to midnight, in part because of global nuclear and political tensions, COVID-19, climate change and the threat of biological weapons.
—Elizabeth Weise, USA TODAY, 25 Jan. 2025
The research, conducted after the presidential election, found 48 percent of Americans are pessimistic about the new administration’s ability to lower healthcare costs, while 45 percent feel the same about prescription drug costs.
—Nathaniel Weixel, The Hill, 15 Jan. 2025
The pessimistic side is that, like the Rangers, what the Islanders have at the top simply might not be good enough.
—Dom Luszczyszyn, The Athletic, 9 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pessimistic
Bryan Mena, CNN, 7 Feb. 2025
The most pessimistic years have been the last two, when it was set at 90 seconds to midnight, in part because of global nuclear and political tensions, COVID-19, climate change and the threat of biological weapons.
—Elizabeth Weise, USA TODAY, 25 Jan. 2025
The research, conducted after the presidential election, found 48 percent of Americans are pessimistic about the new administration’s ability to lower healthcare costs, while 45 percent feel the same about prescription drug costs.
—Nathaniel Weixel, The Hill, 15 Jan. 2025
The pessimistic side is that, like the Rangers, what the Islanders have at the top simply might not be good enough.
—Dom Luszczyszyn, The Athletic, 9 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pessimistic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pessimistic
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
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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
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
Adjective
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Studies show that low self-concept clarity—when individuals lack a clear and stable understanding of themselves—is linked to various negative psychological outcomes like higher levels of anxiety, depression and loneliness as well as less satisfying relationships.—
Dale Whelehan,
TIME,
28 Feb. 2025
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Consumers deciding to ‘sit it out and wait’ At first glance, January’s spending slump, the first negative monthly reading in nearly two years, appears to substantiate an increasingly unsettling picture of the economic outlook.—
Alicia Wallace,
CNN,
28 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pessimistic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pessimistic. Accessed 9 Mar. 2025.
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