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
On Friday, Cora was similarly pessimistic about the prospect of Richard Fitts returning from arm neuritis before season’s end.
—
Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 16 Sep. 2025
Employers have hit the brakes on hiring in recent months as Americans once again grow pessimistic about the economy’s future.
—Bryan Mena, CNN Money, 16 Sep. 2025
The baby survived the attack, but those close to the victim were pessimistic about her potential quality of life in the immediate aftermath.
—Samira Asma-Sadeque, PEOPLE, 16 Sep. 2025
Initial assumptions reacting to the April surge in volatility in the financial markets were broadly pessimistic.
—George Calhoun, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pessimistic
Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 16 Sep. 2025
Employers have hit the brakes on hiring in recent months as Americans once again grow pessimistic about the economy’s future.
—Bryan Mena, CNN Money, 16 Sep. 2025
The baby survived the attack, but those close to the victim were pessimistic about her potential quality of life in the immediate aftermath.
—Samira Asma-Sadeque, PEOPLE, 16 Sep. 2025
Initial assumptions reacting to the April surge in volatility in the financial markets were broadly pessimistic.
—George Calhoun, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pessimistic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pessimistic
Adjective
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Claressa Shields is a three-division world champion boxer and also a hopeless romantic.—
Elizabeth Ayoola,
Essence,
25 Sep. 2025
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Then, as the Steelers swarmed, Maye gave in to his playmaking impulse again — the same that had just kept the Patriots afloat — and lost the ball trying a hopeless pitch to TreVeyon Henderson.—
Andrew Callahan,
Boston Herald,
22 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The director plays up the humor a lot more than Westlake’s callously cynical prose, for better or worse.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
30 Sep. 2025
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When the fortune teller’s predictions start to materialize, once cynical Gemma is ready to take a leap of faith.—
Ryan Schwartz,
TVLine,
30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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And minimizing the ability for rival studios to make viable alternative games, critics argue, has had a negative effect on the quality of sports titles across the sector.—
Dan Bernstein,
Sportico.com,
26 Sep. 2025
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At the same time, Kirk’s admirers are campaigning to get people who make negative comments about those views—which are, after all, highly controversial and designedly so—fired from their jobs.—
Louis Menand,
New Yorker,
26 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pessimistic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pessimistic. Accessed 1 Oct. 2025.
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