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 film is set in 2029, a mere three years from now, demonstrating both an optimism about the potentiality of AI and a pessimism about the city’s trajectory.
—
Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 21 Jan. 2026
His pessimism was very profound.
—Amir Ahmadi Arian, The Dial, 15 Jan. 2026
The result is one less title and the feeling that an atmosphere of pessimism is haunting Madrid.
—Colin Millar, New York Times, 14 Jan. 2026
On the flip side, pessimism is widespread in the media industry.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 12 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pessimism
Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 21 Jan. 2026
His pessimism was very profound.
—Amir Ahmadi Arian, The Dial, 15 Jan. 2026
The result is one less title and the feeling that an atmosphere of pessimism is haunting Madrid.
—Colin Millar, New York Times, 14 Jan. 2026
On the flip side, pessimism is widespread in the media industry.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 12 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pessimism
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pessimism
Noun
-
Teams that flame out in the playoffs will enter the market with desperation and aggressive intentions.—
Dieter Kurtenbach,
Mercury News,
31 Jan. 2026
-
There’s ample gore and jumpy moments, but the true scariness here is of the forlorn kind; leads Joe Bird and Stacy Clausen play the mounting nightmare with ache and desperation, elevating the emotional tenor of a dolefully eerie movie.—
Richard Lawson,
HollywoodReporter,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Across countries, sadness, anger, loneliness and despair are at the highest levels recorded in decades.—
Vibhas Ratanjee,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
-
The mood in the crowd was widespread anger and sadness — recalling the same outpouring of wrath and grief that shook the city after the murder of George Floyd at the hands of police in 2020, although without the widespread violent protests then.—
Jack Brook,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Through war, famine, and economic despair, people have come together to survive and thrive.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Europe’s economy is showing signs of recovery, despite widespread despair over its prospects.—
Tom Chivers,
semafor.com,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Inevitably, Big Ant soon comes crashing back down to Earth and the swirl of anger and sorrow that await him there; inevitably, Lil Ant and Lozita are forced to face his unhappiness, and figure out how to react.—
Angie Han,
HollywoodReporter,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Saturn leaving Pisces on February 13 lifts the heavy blanket of sorrow and exhaustion that’s been dampening your life force for the last three years, freeing you to unthaw a bit from the winter of your discontent.—
Steph Koyfman,
Condé Nast Traveler,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
As wonderfully portrayed by Buric, the Wonder Man reboot’s director is every European artiste absorbed into the American studio system cut with a dose of Werner Herzog’s gloom; his mansion could be a museum of Hollywood Regency decadence.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
26 Jan. 2026
-
But what Spurs wouldn’t give for a Michael Carrick-esque boost to pierce through the engulfing gloom.—
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Studies have shown that some medical conditions, like polycystic ovarian syndrome and depression, can also increase food noise, as can stress and inadequate sleep.—
Shiv Sudhakar,
FOXNews.com,
2 Feb. 2026
-
My body often shut down and I was overcome with anxiety and depression, unable to eat or sleep, hiding away in a dark room for days until the pain lifted.—
Fatima Bhutto,
Vogue,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The correct attitude toward this stuff is probably a cautious cynicism—knowing bad actors will continue to milk AI for the most mercenary purposes, while not ruling out the chance for bizarre genius.—
Kieran Press-Reynolds,
Pitchfork,
28 Jan. 2026
-
But every so often, that cynicism is unwarranted.—
Iman Balagam,
Vogue,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
At some point this winter — maybe a few days, maybe a few weeks — melancholy will fade and Hurricanes fans will be able to appreciate all that was accomplished during a season when UM got back its good name and returned to prominence.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
20 Jan. 2026
-
Neither a square nor prime number, 2026 is still intriguing Number enthusiasts may be looking to the new year with a touch of melancholy.—
Manon Bischoff,
Scientific American,
10 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pessimism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pessimism. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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