as in desperation
a feeling or belief that bad things will happen in the future; a feeling or belief that what you hope for will not happen
She has expressed pessimism over the outcome of the trial. Although the economy shows signs of improving, a sense of pessimism remains. He expressed his pessimism about politics and politicians.
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Recent Examples of pessimism
Reinforcing this historical Chinese pessimism toward the United States is an increasingly widespread and firm belief sustained by the Chinese Communist Party that Washington is committed to containing and weakening China as a nation in order to sustain its own global hegemonic power.
—
Michael Swaine, Twin Cities, 17 May 2025
But pessimism has risen sharply amid President Donald Trump’s deep cuts to the government workforce and a dizzying range of tariffs.
—Harriet Baskas, NBC news, 10 May 2025
His offense, however, has been the greater source of pessimism.
—Dennis Lin, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2025
The scale of pessimism echoed an annual survey of U.S. companies in China released in late January that showed a record share of American businesses were accelerating plans to relocate manufacturing or sourcing.
—Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 28 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for pessimism
Michael Swaine, Twin Cities, 17 May 2025
But pessimism has risen sharply amid President Donald Trump’s deep cuts to the government workforce and a dizzying range of tariffs.
—Harriet Baskas, NBC news, 10 May 2025
His offense, however, has been the greater source of pessimism.
—Dennis Lin, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2025
The scale of pessimism echoed an annual survey of U.S. companies in China released in late January that showed a record share of American businesses were accelerating plans to relocate manufacturing or sourcing.
—Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 28 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for pessimism
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pessimism
Noun
-
The Oklahoma City Thunder had a chance to close out the series in Game 6 on Thursday night, but the Indiana Pacers came out with desperation in front of their home crowd and dominated for nearly the entire contest.—
Nick Crain,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2025
-
Perry strips the narrative down to raw moments of desperation, exploring what can happen when someone's pushed beyond their limits.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
10 June 2025
Noun
-
So many of the adults who held our communities together have been lost to mass incarceration, to addictions—diseases of despair—as drugs have replaced jobs and hope in our neighborhoods, often turning them into war zones.—
Asha Bandele,
Essence,
25 June 2025
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The best dystopian films are the most plausible ones, and Children Of Men feels all too real, from the political factions to the way humanity both descends into despair and miraculously comes together to help those who need it most.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
22 June 2025
Noun
-
Not the murder, not the arrival of the addicted sister, but the removal of the boy that has been at the core of so much sorrow and betrayal between the sisters.—
Antonia Blyth,
Deadline,
20 June 2025
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Referencing the push and pull between sorrow and hope, Echakhch transforms water into a metaphor for emotional duality.—
Nel-Olivia Waga,
Forbes.com,
17 June 2025
Noun
-
Adding to the gloom in Tokyo is the uncertainty of U.S. tariff policy toward China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), where Japanese firms are also heavily invested.—
Robert Ward,
NPR,
27 May 2025
-
Consumers are hunting for cheaper vacations — and road trips are one way people are keeping travel plans despite economic gloom.—
Amina Kilpatrick,
NBC news,
26 May 2025
Noun
-
For some, symptoms stabilize or improve, especially if caused by treatable issues like depression or medication side effects.—
Nawab John Dar,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 June 2025
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Spending time with a therapy dog can also reduce anxiety, loneliness and depression, while increasing the patient's socialization.—
Alyce Collins,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 June 2025
Noun
-
Liam Twomey: There has been a lot of understandable cynicism and some less justifiable snootiness about this competition from some quarters, but the fundamental reality of football is that if the players take it seriously, everyone else will.—
The Athletic Staff,
New York Times,
28 June 2025
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In the long run, however, the truth emerges, and opacity and deception merely undermine trust and amplify cynicism in the political system.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
23 June 2025
Noun
-
Labor Day is suffused with a certain melancholy at the end of summer and children are already back in school.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
19 June 2025
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That betrayal, like so many others, fed the melancholy in Brian's music.—
Philip Martin,
Arkansas Online,
15 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pessimism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pessimism. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.
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