as in pessimism
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of defeatism
The defeatism that has come to define the way that many young people today perceive the conflict between Palestinians and Israelis is not really part of her vocabulary.
—
Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic, 13 Jan. 2025
Some climate scientists prefer to call it climate defeatism instead, and others have called doom the new climate denial because of how disempowering its black-and-white logic is: There is nothing to be done to stop climate collapse, so why bother trying?
—Hazlitt, 3 Dec. 2024
The billionaire founder’s defeatism—and private contemplation about leaving the U.S.—are shared by a cadre of wealthy Democratic Party backers, who have been left licking their wounds and trying to move forward after Harris’s defeat, the Times reported.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 2 Dec. 2024
Biden was compelled not by any fair comparison to the character and record of the Republican nominee, but by how polls had spread defeatism and panic among other party leaders, down-ballot Democrats and major donors.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 22 July 2024
See All Example Sentences for defeatism
Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic, 13 Jan. 2025
Some climate scientists prefer to call it climate defeatism instead, and others have called doom the new climate denial because of how disempowering its black-and-white logic is: There is nothing to be done to stop climate collapse, so why bother trying?
—Hazlitt, 3 Dec. 2024
The billionaire founder’s defeatism—and private contemplation about leaving the U.S.—are shared by a cadre of wealthy Democratic Party backers, who have been left licking their wounds and trying to move forward after Harris’s defeat, the Times reported.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 2 Dec. 2024
Biden was compelled not by any fair comparison to the character and record of the Republican nominee, but by how polls had spread defeatism and panic among other party leaders, down-ballot Democrats and major donors.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 22 July 2024
See All Example Sentences for defeatism
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defeatism
Noun
-
In fact, the December survey represented the sharpest swing toward market optimism in the survey’s 17-year history and the April survey is the sharpest turn towards pessimism.—
Steve Liesman,
CNBC,
19 Apr. 2025
-
This is up from 33% in December and 17% in October, marking a dramatic increase in pessimism in just six months.—
Brendan Rascius,
Miami Herald,
17 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
In his resignation letter sent to NSF staff Thursday and also obtained by Ars Technica, Panchanathan only hinted at the attack on the agency's research mission and budget cuts.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
24 Apr. 2025
-
That followed a desperate period in which a bleak financial picture forced the resignation of CEO Anders Jensen.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
24 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Defeatism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defeatism. Accessed 5 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share