as in pessimism
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Recent Examples of defeatism
By contrast, maybe such language engenders a sense of defeatism, a belief in the inevitability of collapse which is collectively paralyzing.
—
Ed Simon
september 24, Literary Hub, 24 Sep. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for defeatism
Ed Simon
september 24, Literary Hub, 24 Sep. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for defeatism
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defeatism
Noun
-
Fortunately, our pessimism was misplaced.—
Fleurine Tideman,
Glamour,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Along with co-founder Kyle Chayka, now of The New Yorker, Alioto first imagined Dirt as a moment-meeting entertainment brand that brooks very little techno-pessimism.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Finally, in January of 2026, the termination, resignation, or retirement (including early retirement) for a large number of NASA employees was made final, reducing the number of NASA employees from over 17,000 at the start of 2025 to its current number of less than 13,000 at present.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
11 Mar. 2026
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The Jockey Club, owner of Britain’s most prestigious courses, including Aintree, Newmarket, Epsom and Cheltenham itself, responded to Allen’s resignation by demanding a corporate governance review at the Racecourse Association (one of the bodies currently represented on the BHA board).—
Ian King,
CNBC,
11 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Defeatism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defeatism. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.
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