as in pessimism
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Recent Examples of defeatism
This defeatism has been supported by a second, equally pernicious assumption: that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s commitment to subjugating Ukraine cannot be deterred.
—
Michael Carpenter, Foreign Affairs, 1 July 2025
Too often the effect has been to make the GOP put lipstick on defeatism.
—Andreas Kluth, Mercury News, 19 June 2025
Shot entirely in France, the movie renders its ideas of romantic melancholy and Agathe’s default romantic defeatism in ways that reassure the audience every second.
—Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune, 22 May 2025
Blind pessimism becomes defeatism, a denial that solutions are possible.
—Big Think, 5 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for defeatism
Michael Carpenter, Foreign Affairs, 1 July 2025
Too often the effect has been to make the GOP put lipstick on defeatism.
—Andreas Kluth, Mercury News, 19 June 2025
Shot entirely in France, the movie renders its ideas of romantic melancholy and Agathe’s default romantic defeatism in ways that reassure the audience every second.
—Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune, 22 May 2025
Blind pessimism becomes defeatism, a denial that solutions are possible.
—Big Think, 5 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for defeatism
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defeatism
Noun
-
Has the pessimism finally been factored into Microsoft?—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
There’s a big conversation going on in the UK about the need for positivity in climate fiction, for example—paths of light to direct people away from hopelessness and pessimism.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
His goal wasn’t to lower the bar out of resignation that the demands of parenting are too overwhelming.—
Danielle Marie Holland,
Parents,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Tyra remained as Louisville’s athletic director until his resignation in 2021.—
Daniel Libit,
Sportico.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Defeatism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defeatism. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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