cynical implies having a sneering disbelief in sincerity or integrity.
cynical about politicians' motives
misanthropic suggests a rooted distrust and dislike of human beings and their society.
a solitary and misanthropic artist
pessimistic implies having a gloomy, distrustful view of life.
pessimistic about the future
Examples of pessimistic in a Sentence
Most doctors were pessimistic that a cure could be found.
The film gives a very pessimistic view of human nature.
He has an extremely negative and pessimistic attitude.
Recent Examples on the WebThe economy’s resilience has led some forecasters to revise or retract their pessimistic predictions.—Bywill Daniel, Fortune, 27 Nov. 2023 Doom Loops Among those more pessimistic about the risks of AI, the Altman drama prompted mixed reactions.—Peter Guest, WIRED, 22 Nov. 2023 The pessimistic in-person numbers validate existing anxieties among arts leaders.—Thomas Floyd, Washington Post, 18 Oct. 2023 Americans also feel pessimistic that anything will change.—Monica Potts, ABC News, 13 Nov. 2023 After weathering a couple of volatile years, many Americans are still feeling financially anxious and pessimistic about the economy, even if the cost of living has ebbed some.—Chloe Berger, Fortune, 11 Nov. 2023 But while economic growth surged over the summer and hiring shot up in September, surveys show the public remains pessimistic about the current economic direction, which is likely due to ongoing pains of inflation or other factors.—Catherine Lucey, WSJ, 9 Nov. 2023 Economists who once charted China’s rise are now flatly pessimistic.—Evan Osnos, The New Yorker, 23 Oct. 2023 But that same month, Huntington debuted a far more pessimistic thesis about a clash of civilizations in a lecture at the American Enterprise Institute, the conservative think tank.—Jordan Michael Smith, The New Republic, 19 Oct. 2023 See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pessimistic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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