pessimist

noun pes·si·mist \ ˈpe-sə-mist also ˈpe-zə- \

|Updated on: 25 Jul 2018

Definition of pessimist

plural pessimists

: a person who is inclined to expect poor outcomes : someone who is given to pessimism

… such was the success of the first venture that many must now be optimistic where most were pessimists at the beginning of the year and for several years before.
—Francis Byrne

For pessimists, the heavens offer a host of doomsday scenarios—an asteroid crashing into Earth or deadly cosmic rays raining down on the planet.
—R. Cowen

See pessimist defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of pessimist from the Web

The results show optimists outnumber pessimists but that difference is shrinking.

— yuri kageyama, The Seattle Times, "Bank of Japan survey shows corporate sentiment worsening," 2 July 2018
But pessimists also point to deteriorating manager surveys and consumer confidence.

— the editorial board, WSJ, "Europhoria Takes a Hit," 18 Apr. 2018
Similarly, optimistic speculators drove up Bitcoin prices, but when Bitcoin futures began trading pessimists could more easily bet against the cryptocurrency.

— kevin kelleher, Fortune, "Bitcoin Futures Killed the Bitcoin Rally (and Will Keep It from Returning), Economists Say," 2 July 2018
The pessimist would say that a foot problem for a guard is not the equivalent of a back problem for a big and that Porter’s brief return in the postseason is hardly proof that his troubles are behind him.

— benjamin hoffman, New York Times, "2018 N.B.A. Draft Results: Analysis of Every Pick in Round 1," 21 June 2018
Everybody has a view: for or against; optimist or pessimist; fear-monger or Panglossian technophile.

— fred pearce, Time, "How the 'Compulsive Secrecy’ of the Atomic Age Has Changed the Way We Think," 22 May 2018
The Celtics beat the point spread after losses far more often than the Nets did; the optimists responded to losses far better than the pessimists did.

— andrew beaton, WSJ, "It’s Never Been Sunnier in Philadelphia," 2 May 2018
Inevitably, a new set of pessimists now voice a fresh worry: that bond yields might go on rising for less welcome reasons.

— The Economist, "The outlook for US government debt," 12 Apr. 2018
For example, Canadians are becoming more negative on the economy’s outlook, with pessimists outnumbering optimists.

— theophilos argitis, Bloomberg.com, "Consumer Confidence Takes a Hit With Canada’s Economy Gearing Down," 5 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'pessimist.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.