PESSIMISM Synonyms: 76 Similar and Opposite Words

pessimism

noun

Definition of pessimism

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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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 pessimism The most effective way to shift from pessimism to optimism is to stop consuming chaos passively and start creating measurable progress daily. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026 Allan Bailey, 83, a Republican who also served in Vietnam and later owned a motel, voiced similar pessimism. — ABC News, 2 July 2026 With many families increasingly financially pinched, some are turning to credit cards and other forms of debt to cover daily expenses, which could also contribute to their pessimism about the economy, Hanks said. — Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 30 June 2026 And growing fears over diminishing job security in white-collar fields once thought of as safe are a key driver behind Americans’ growing pessimism about the economy. — D. Brian Blank, The Conversation, 29 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for pessimism

Recent Examples of Synonyms for pessimism

Noun

Anna Marian Block, a spokesperson for the Republican Governors Association, said Moore’s trip was a sign of desperation for Georgia Democrats, not strength.

— Tia Mitchell, AJC.com, 15 July 2026
Morocco’s quality and desperation ultimately proved the difference as Saibari scored for the third group game running before Soufiane Rahimi’s second-half cameo got them the win.

— Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 11 July 2026

Definition of desperation

Noun

Each new body part is tinged with a bit of pleasure, pushing up against the edges of my sadness and embracing it chummily.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 20 July 2026
The Hole Truth And Nothing Butt, telling the story of these Texan wildmen and their real-life moments of brilliance and hilarity, with revelations of profound sadness.

— Steve Appleford, SPIN, 20 July 2026

Definition of sadness

Noun

That sense of despair could be because the album captured the band in a state of crisis.

— Sam Goldner, Pitchfork, 19 July 2026
Rayan Cherki captured the sense of shock and despair among the France players on a day when their World Cup dream died, in a 2-0 defeat to Spain that was as emphatic as the scoreline suggests.

— Stuart James, New York Times, 18 July 2026

Definition of despair

Noun

As the genre’s name suggests, country music tends to be preoccupied with place; the charts are full of tributes to the satisfaction of being firmly rooted in a small town, and the sorrows of leaving it behind.

— Kelefa Sanneh, New Yorker, 19 July 2026
Bet your bottom dollar that Son Heung-min, LAFC’s $26-million man — the record MLS fee for an incoming player — would peel himself off the mat and clear away the cobwebs and the sorrow of the past few weeks and months.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 18 July 2026

Definition of sorrow

Noun

Its blockbuster antidepressant Prozac transformed the treatment of depression and fueled Lilly's last major sales boom before the GLP-1 explosion.

— Angelica Peebles, CNBC, 16 July 2026
Research shows that these students are more likely to have poorer physical health, higher rates of depression and lower GPAs than their peers.

— Tarini Mehta, Sacbee.com, 16 July 2026

Definition of depression

Noun

Their cynicism is still there, but it’s carried by brighter melodies and a willingness to let the music speak as loudly as the message.

— Sophie Miller, Rolling Stone, 19 July 2026
But key voters in Pennsylvania have mixed views on whether this is a big deal or not, indicating a level of cynicism about many in the political class.

— Ashley Lopez, NPR, 16 July 2026

Definition of cynicism

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pessimism

pessimist

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“Pessimism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pessimism. Accessed 22 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of pessimism

noun

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