as in hopeless
emphasizing or expecting the worst
your defeatist attitude is depressing everyone else on the team!
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in realist
one who emphasizes bad aspects or conditions and expects the worst
we told her that if she was going to be such a defeatist, she should keep her thoughts to herself
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of defeatist
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld,
Time,
11 May 2026
This defeatist thinking is misguided and assumes action will be futile.
—
Jim Costa,
Mercury News,
17 Feb. 2026
Job seekers can game this defeatist death-spiral by recalculating their measure of success.
—
Amy Lindgren,
Twin Cities,
22 Nov. 2025
China’s internet regulators have launched a campaign targeting online content that promotes negativity, pessimism, or defeatist attitudes and are urging netizens to report posts that violate these new standards.
—
Micah McCartney,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Sep. 2025
The prime minister’s far-right political allies, on the other hand, have accused the chief of staff of leading a weak and defeatist approach that is preventing victory over Hamas, the officials said.
—
Tal Shalev,
CNN Money,
2 Sep. 2025
Jay Harris,
New York Times,
27 May 2026
Hegseth largely declined to provide specifics, instead denouncing critics as defeatists, questioning their patriotism and insisting the mission had broad public support.
—
Nik Popli,
Time,
29 Apr. 2026
The mood just feels a little defeatist right now.
—
Chris Gardner,
HollywoodReporter,
23 Oct. 2025
Adjective
This defeatist sentiment is wrong and dangerous.
—
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld,
Time,
11 May 2026
This defeatist thinking is misguided and assumes action will be futile.
—
Jim Costa,
Mercury News,
17 Feb. 2026
Job seekers can game this defeatist death-spiral by recalculating their measure of success.
—
Amy Lindgren,
Twin Cities,
22 Nov. 2025
China’s internet regulators have launched a campaign targeting online content that promotes negativity, pessimism, or defeatist attitudes and are urging netizens to report posts that violate these new standards.
—
Micah McCartney,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Sep. 2025
The prime minister’s far-right political allies, on the other hand, have accused the chief of staff of leading a weak and defeatist approach that is preventing victory over Hamas, the officials said.
—
Tal Shalev,
CNN Money,
2 Sep. 2025
Noun
Frank was trying to set realistic expectations for the season, but made comments that were interpreted as defeatist.
—
Jay Harris,
New York Times,
27 May 2026
Hegseth largely declined to provide specifics, instead denouncing critics as defeatists, questioning their patriotism and insisting the mission had broad public support.
—
Nik Popli,
Time,
29 Apr. 2026
The mood just feels a little defeatist right now.
—
Chris Gardner,
HollywoodReporter,
23 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defeatist
Adjective
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The conflict feels contemporary without growing too cynical, and the core relationship stakes seem real without skewing hopeless.
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The situation of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank would almost certainly worsen and become more hopeless.
Noun
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Any realist would tell you Ukraine would fall.
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The realist recognizes this series has had two games that were toss-ups and one where the Knicks were just better, longer.
Adjective
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Traditionally cynical and perceptive commentators—not to mention a lot of tired citizens—found themselves, in some accounts, overcome by an unexpected wave of patriotic sentimentality that washed away, at least for a moment, their gnawing doubts.
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Heston is at his most gleefully cynical as Robert Thorn, a police detective who lives and works in a New York City decimated by environmental deterioration and dwindling resources.
Noun
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Naturally, the cynics will want to naysay.
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And, though a lot of cynics will try to convince you otherwise, that’s perfectly OK.
Adjective
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Recent polls show majority of voters are pessimistic about the economy and a lasting peace deal with Iran.
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Despite this, the staff report from the meeting expressed a pessimistic financial outlook for the town.
Noun
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That is a hard thing to live with—but, the pessimist would answer, who thought life was supposed to be easy?
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As late as August 2007, the Federal Reserve was skeptical of such bubble talk, while Grantham was dismissed as a pessimist, a dismissal that soon proved mistaken.
Cite this Entry
“Defeatist.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defeatist. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.
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