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
Even in the happiest countries, people often remain pessimistic about the kindness displayed within their communities.
—
Juliette Han, Phd, Forbes.com, 11 Apr. 2025
Skittish consumers Small businesses are coping with the tariffs just as Americans are growing more pessimistic about the economy, with consumer confidence slumping to a 12-year low last month.
—Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 8 Apr. 2025
Also, recent sentiment surveys have shown households are more pessimistic about their job prospects and financial situations due to tariffs.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 4 Apr. 2025
What causes bear markets? Bear markets tend to happen when investors are feeling particularly pessimistic about the future of the economy.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 7 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pessimistic
Juliette Han, Phd, Forbes.com, 11 Apr. 2025
Skittish consumers Small businesses are coping with the tariffs just as Americans are growing more pessimistic about the economy, with consumer confidence slumping to a 12-year low last month.
—Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 8 Apr. 2025
Also, recent sentiment surveys have shown households are more pessimistic about their job prospects and financial situations due to tariffs.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 4 Apr. 2025
What causes bear markets? Bear markets tend to happen when investors are feeling particularly pessimistic about the future of the economy.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 7 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pessimistic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pessimistic
Adjective
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Previewing the playoffs with a playoff team draft Finding 3 positive thoughts for each of the NHL’s 15 most hopeless teams 16 stats: Blues’ turnaround, Lane Hutson’s stardom and Stars’ struggles Comments D Dan N. · 4h 17m ago Helle is thee best.—
Scott Powers,
New York Times,
11 Apr. 2025
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Mimi seesaws between hopeless heroin addict and righteous truth-teller.—
Jeffrey Seller,
Vulture,
11 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Beyond that, Acheampong’s rapid rise and equally precipitous fall in the first two weeks of January lent itself to the more cynical notion that Maresca might have wanted to send a message to Chelsea about the need for defensive reinforcements in the winter market.—
Liam Twomey,
New York Times,
11 Apr. 2025
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Perhaps most perplexing about Smash, though, is its weirdly cynical, ungenerous take on the Bombshell herself.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
10 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Meanwhile, the negative effects on the economy could be significant, prompting the Fed to lower rates sooner and more sharply.—
Paul Davidson,
USA Today,
17 Apr. 2025
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But if your reflection is limited to replaying the negative parts of your social interactions and perpetuating feelings of shame or self-criticism, that’s less constructive, says Janeé Steele, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist in Kalamazoo, Michigan.—
Seraphina Seow,
Vogue,
17 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pessimistic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pessimistic. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.
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