pessimistic

adjective

pes·​si·​mis·​tic ˌpe-sə-ˈmi-stik How to pronounce pessimistic (audio)
 also  ˌpe-zə-
: of, relating to, or characterized by pessimism : gloomy
pessimistically
ˌpe-sə-ˈmi-sti-k(ə-)lē How to pronounce pessimistic (audio)
 also  ˌpe-zə-
adverb
Choose the Right Synonym for pessimistic

cynical, misanthropic, pessimistic mean deeply distrustful.

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 Web Victoria’s Secret had a pessimistic 2024 forecast on Thursday, projecting a third straight year of a decline in sales, and Nordstrom’s fourth-quarter earnings posted Tuesday said its 2024 revenue could drop as much as 2%. Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 8 Mar. 2024 Some might regard this conclusion as pessimistic, if not apocalyptic, but Cronenberg is quick to correct them. Becca Rothfeld, The New Yorker, 17 Feb. 2024 Gen Xers were the most pessimistic, with 55% expecting to fail to achieve their financial goals. John Schlifske, Fortune, 21 Feb. 2024 Dunham, the Birmingham attorney, is even more pessimistic about the implications of the ruling. Sabrina Malhi, Washington Post, 21 Feb. 2024 The poll follows other surveys that have seemingly found the opposite to be true, namely that Americans are extremely pessimistic about the political system itself. Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 7 Feb. 2024 Outside critics have been pessimistic about The Sun’s new ownership. Katie Robertson, New York Times, 20 Jan. 2024 Respondents of the Monday poll are less pessimistic about the year, with half expecting the economy to be slowing or in a recession — down from most of 2023 when 60% believed an economic crisis was on the horizon. Rachel Schilke, Washington Examiner, 9 Jan. 2024 In addition, nearly 2 out of 3 Americans say crime in the U.S. is either extremely or very serious – one of the most pessimistic outlooks Gallup has measured. Jacob Turcotte, The Christian Science Monitor, 5 Jan. 2024

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.

Word History

Etymology

pessimist + -ic entry 1

First Known Use

1865, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pessimistic was in 1865

Dictionary Entries Near pessimistic

Cite this Entry

“Pessimistic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pessimistic. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

pessimistic

adjective
pes·​si·​mis·​tic ˌpes-ə-ˈmis-tik How to pronounce pessimistic (audio)
: of, relating to, or marked by pessimism : gloomy
pessimistically adverb

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