downbeat

²downbeat

adj

Definition of DOWNBEAT

: pessimistic, gloomy <a downbeat assessment>

Examples of DOWNBEAT

1. <a downbeat prediction for the company's sales performance in the upcoming year>

First Known Use of DOWNBEAT

1950

Related to DOWNBEAT

Synonyms: bearish, defeatist, despairing, pessimistic, hopeless

Antonyms: hopeful, optimistic, Panglossian, Pollyanna, Pollyannaish (also Polyannish), rose-colored, rosy, upbeat

Related Words: cynical, fatalistic, nihilist, nihilistic; desperate, discouraging, disheartening, inauspicious, unlikely, unpromising; bleak, cheerless, comfortless, depressing, desolate, dismal, dreary, funereal, gloomy, morose, saturnine, sepulchral, somber (or sombre), sullen; grim; contrary, hostile, negative

Near Antonyms: auspicious, bright, encouraging, fair, golden, heartening, likely, promising, propitious; cheering, comforting, reassuring; favorable, good, positive; idealist, romantic, utopian, visionary; cheerful, cheery, chipper, sunny

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