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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Example Sentences

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 Yinka’s view There is no shortage of pessimism about Africa’s prospects in the AI race. — Yinka Adegoke, semafor.com, 30 Oct. 2026 Meanwhile, the overall drop in voters’ economic outlook has largely been driven by growing pessimism among Republicans. — Erin Kay Lockwood, The Conversation, 30 Oct. 2026 Gallup pointed to rising clinical depression and loneliness, difficulty affording housing, fears of losing jobs to artificial intelligence and growing pessimism about the job market as possible contributors to the decline. — Alex Deluca, Washington Post, 5 Oct. 2026 Republicans have expressed growing pessimism about their chances in the election, which will determine control of Congress, as the president has repeatedly dismissed concerns about high costs and gas prices as his unpopular war in Iran drags on. — Michelle L. Price, Arkansas Online, 2 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for pessimism

Recent Examples of Synonyms for pessimism

Noun

Jamarr Cole shows us both the hopes and the desperation in Guy’s dreams, while Alejandro Cirino finds an appealingly weary nobility in his doctor.

— Matthew J. Palm, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Nov. 2026
Meszaros plays Lisbeth, a gawky reject whose desperation to join the dance team leads her to some fairly sinful decisions.

— Kenneal Patterson, Vanity Fair, 11 Nov. 2026

Definition of desperation

Noun

For anyone who feels both joy and sadness as their family grows.

— Sherri Smith, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Nov. 2026
Jackson, the cutter’s executive officer, has been stationed on the ship for about a year and a half and has seen her fair share of sadness patrolling the Mona Passage.

— Pedro Portal, Miami Herald, 12 Nov. 2026

Definition of sadness

Noun

Who can blame Cyrus for his volatility and despair when the event at the center of his grief repeats itself again and again?

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 Nov. 2026
Cue the Ghost Of Christmas Present (a dynamic turn from Severance Emmy winner Tramell Tillman) who really turns on the gas to show Scrooge a miserable world, including for the Cratchit clan involving death and despair.

— Pete Hammond, Deadline, 12 Nov. 2026

Definition of despair

Noun

Words cannot express the profound sorrow our department and community feel tonight over the loss of our fallen hero, who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to Lakewood.

— CBS News, CBS News, 6 Nov. 2026
What feels like a weight of helplessness and sorrow on our shoulders may, with enough space, also reflect our remarkable capacities for strength, steadfastness, and compassion.

— Robert M. Kinast, STAT, 3 Nov. 2026

Definition of sorrow

Noun

Veterans organizations and psychedelic advocates contend that ibogaine has great promise for intractable conditions such as PTSD, severe depression and opioid addiction.

— ABC News, ABC News, 12 Nov. 2026
The find sits adjacent to the Bozhong Sag, the largest hydrocarbon-rich depression in the Bohai Sea.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 12 Nov. 2026

Definition of depression

Noun

Even if the average person still supports much of the mainstream biomedical research community, there’s a level of skepticism and cynicism toward science that is perhaps unprecedented in our lifetimes.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Nov. 2026
Many have warned that the false data would add to the cynicism about the organizer’s commitment to a fair election and weaken voter participation.

— Alexander Onukwue, semafor.com, 4 Nov. 2026

Definition of cynicism

Noun

The vestiges of his fading memory flash by with a haunting plainness, the melancholy of all this Americana and the sadness of a mind ravaged by time strike the viewer plainly at the end of this maximalist piece of life-writing.

— Stephanie Wambugu, Vulture, 12 Oct. 2026
The question for me is whether or not Lloyd will also manage to capture the melancholy of a deceptively serious play, notwithstanding its reputation.

— Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 23 Sep. 2026

Definition of melancholy

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pesky

pessimism

pessimist

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“Pessimism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pessimism. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of pessimism

noun

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