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
Paris, France Reuters — LVMH lost its position on Tuesday as Europe’s largest luxury company in terms of market capitalization after being overtaken by rival Hermès due to investor pessimism after disappointing first-quarter revenue from the sector bellwether.
—
Reuters, CNN Money, 15 Apr. 2025
Investor sentiment: Negative economic outlooks and market uncertainty can trigger widespread pessimism, leading to significant sell-offs.
—Allbusiness, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025
In fact, the December survey represented the sharpest swing toward market optimism in the survey’s 17-year history and the April survey is the sharpest turn towards pessimism.
—Steve Liesman, CNBC, 19 Apr. 2025
This is up from 33% in December and 17% in October, marking a dramatic increase in pessimism in just six months.
—Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 17 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pessimism
Reuters, CNN Money, 15 Apr. 2025
Investor sentiment: Negative economic outlooks and market uncertainty can trigger widespread pessimism, leading to significant sell-offs.
—Allbusiness, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025
In fact, the December survey represented the sharpest swing toward market optimism in the survey’s 17-year history and the April survey is the sharpest turn towards pessimism.
—Steve Liesman, CNBC, 19 Apr. 2025
This is up from 33% in December and 17% in October, marking a dramatic increase in pessimism in just six months.
—Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 17 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pessimism
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pessimism
Noun
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According to the logline, Nook dreams of a better life but is caught in a rampant cycle of poverty and desperation within his Atlanta community.—
DeMicia Inman,
VIBE.com,
2 May 2025
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There was energy and joy but the mood was thick with desperation and laced with danger.—
Simon Hughes,
New York Times,
28 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Democrats and Republicans alike would do well to recognize that increasing polarization is the most likely result of aggressive posturing, spinning us into doom loops of despair.—
Timothy Shriver,
Chicago Tribune,
8 May 2025
-
Is now a time for optimism or despair over Israel’s environmental record?—
JTA Staff Report,
Sun Sentinel,
5 May 2025
Noun
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But while there was undeniable joy in that surreal experience, a quiet sorrow lingered beneath it all.—
Carissa Talmage,
People.com,
2 May 2025
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The aubade flourishes wherever lovers try to cling to a few more moments together before the sweet sorrow of parting.—
A.O. Scott,
New York Times,
1 May 2025
Noun
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Inter’s 1-0 loss to Roma wasn’t all doom and gloom.—
Sam Tighe,
New York Times,
29 Apr. 2025
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And yet the announcement wasn’t all doom and gloom.—
Rebecca Ellis,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Fatigue and depression can lead to physical inactivity, which can reduce quality of life and impede recovery.—
Tom Gavin,
EverydayHealth.com,
2 May 2025
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Anxiety is the most common, followed by depression.—
Alex Backus,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 May 2025
Noun
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My hope is to be able to inspire them back off the brink of this sort of politics of cynicism and hate to a politics of hope and aspiration and investment in oneself and one's community.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Apr. 2025
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In addition to the changes around LGBTQ+ inclusion, 2021 restrictions on a certain traditionalist liturgy outraged a contingent of Catholics who developed a cynicism about Francis’ reforms mirroring that of the Second Vatican Council.—
Liam Adams,
USA Today,
23 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Chu's main input was slowing down the song's pacing overall, leaning into the melancholy of the moment.—
Maureen Lee Lenker,
EW.com,
22 Mar. 2025
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Gyuri Kim, with her feeling for melancholy and uncertainty, turned out to be a wonderful counterpart.—
Jazz Monroe,
Pitchfork,
21 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pessimism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pessimism. Accessed 13 May. 2025.
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