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
The journey into the darkness is not a journey into a useless reveling in pessimism.
—
Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 26 Aug. 2025
Each inaccurate prediction should diminish these commentators’ credibility, and yet their incessant drumbeat of pessimism continues, lacking any context or fair and factual counter narrative.
—Joel Bines, Fortune, 22 Aug. 2025
Yet ethical pessimism remains committed to some future human existence, no matter what form that existence takes, no matter who that human is.
—Roy Scranton
august 20, Literary Hub, 20 Aug. 2025
The pessimism expressed on the Hotline over Oregon State at this point last season has shifted to the Cougars, who are rebuilding in the post-Jake Dickert era in much the same way the Beavers picked up the pieces following Jonathan Smith’s departure.
—Jon Wilner, Mercury News, 13 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pessimism
Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 26 Aug. 2025
Each inaccurate prediction should diminish these commentators’ credibility, and yet their incessant drumbeat of pessimism continues, lacking any context or fair and factual counter narrative.
—Joel Bines, Fortune, 22 Aug. 2025
Yet ethical pessimism remains committed to some future human existence, no matter what form that existence takes, no matter who that human is.
—Roy Scranton
august 20, Literary Hub, 20 Aug. 2025
The pessimism expressed on the Hotline over Oregon State at this point last season has shifted to the Cougars, who are rebuilding in the post-Jake Dickert era in much the same way the Beavers picked up the pieces following Jonathan Smith’s departure.
—Jon Wilner, Mercury News, 13 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pessimism
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pessimism
Noun
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Daniels also threw a desperation pick while simply trying to get rid of the ball, but the game’s outcome was decided by then.—
Shreyas Laddha,
Kansas City Star,
6 Sep. 2025
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Tatum does stretch his acting abilities in scenes where Jeffrey’s con-man charisma is underlaid with desperation and deception, but there’s nothing in Cianfrance and Kirt Gunn’s screenplay to seriously challenge Tatum’s persona as a leading man.—
Katie Rife,
IndieWire,
6 Sep. 2025
Noun
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These movies commit to the dusty interior decoration and inherent sadness of their ghost stories, but have little feel for the profound interfamily dynamics therein.—
J. Kim Murphy,
Variety,
3 Sep. 2025
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So many of Lee’s memories of her mother are tinged with sadness and grief.—
Joan MacDonald,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The feelings of postpartum depression — despair, guilt, shame and worthlessness — began creeping in.—
Alyssa Goldberg,
USA Today,
3 Sep. 2025
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Some of the movie’s best scenes highlight the deep despair of that life, emphasizing how Meursault is indeed a stranger (or outsider, as the title of the book was first translated to in English) in a land under occupation.—
Jordan Mintzer,
HollywoodReporter,
2 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Anger could be enough, sorrow could be enough.—
Baz Bamigboye,
Deadline,
2 Sep. 2025
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Its purpose is not to wallow in historical sorrow, but to illuminate how a people’s spirit was forged in the fire of injustice.—
Brad Braxton,
Chicago Tribune,
1 Sep. 2025
Noun
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This is a club that has endured more than its fair share of doom and gloom in recent times.—
Graham Ruthven,
Forbes.com,
31 Aug. 2025
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On the floor of Orient Craft, which exports about 82% of its products to the US, gloom is settling in.—
Rhea Mogul,
CNN Money,
30 Aug. 2025
Noun
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In addition, people may experience anxiety or depression related to summer's end and the return to school and work routines, Prism Medical Products says.—
Jenna Prestininzi,
Freep.com,
8 Sep. 2025
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The Browns are a virus for seasonal depression.—
Jason Lloyd,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Throwing technology at problems without understanding how work gets done day-to-day is a surefire way to waste money and breed cynicism.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
3 Sep. 2025
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There is a bit of cynicism in online circles about Johnson readying an awards campaign after a series of blockbusters that underperformed, but that should dissolve when more people see the film.—
Marcus Jones,
IndieWire,
2 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Lacy’s new music maintains his sly sense of humor, but with a barefaced melancholy that pushes it to new emotional depths.—
Jeff Ihaza,
Rolling Stone,
14 Aug. 2025
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More often than not, the film’s nostalgia is sweet and enjoyable because it is paired with the melancholy that comes from all the acknowledgments of the actors from the original who died over the last 29 years.—
Jesse David Fox,
Vulture,
30 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pessimism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pessimism. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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