1
as in cynic
one who emphasizes bad aspects or conditions and expects the worst
she's such a pessimist that she's convinced she'll fail every test
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in misanthrope
a person who distrusts other people and believes that everything is done for selfish reasons
a true pessimist, he's convinced that there will be wars as long as there are people to wage them
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Recent Examples of pessimist
That sensibility is countered by Dina’s, who plays the romantic foil to Liberty’s pessimist.
—
Tom Smyth, Vulture, 5 Nov. 2025
For the pessimists, Coreweave is Lucent or Nortel.
—Jim Cramer, CNBC, 28 Sep. 2025
But don’t listen to the pessimists who say there is no cure.
—Christina Dugan Ramirez, FOXNews.com, 16 Sep. 2025
But don't listen to the pessimists who say there is no cure.
—Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pessimist
Tom Smyth, Vulture, 5 Nov. 2025
For the pessimists, Coreweave is Lucent or Nortel.
—Jim Cramer, CNBC, 28 Sep. 2025
But don’t listen to the pessimists who say there is no cure.
—Christina Dugan Ramirez, FOXNews.com, 16 Sep. 2025
But don't listen to the pessimists who say there is no cure.
—Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pessimist
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pessimist
Noun
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This is not a home for doomers, cynics, or know-it-alls.—
Daphne Koller,
Big Think,
29 Jan. 2026
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In a real life departure, cynics would say, truth is rewarded in the tests.—
John Hopewell,
Variety,
12 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Instead, the network is a literal series of trains, waystations, and safe houses — a magical realist gesture from Whitehead’s book that Jenkins brings to striking life here.—
Declan Gallagher,
Entertainment Weekly,
30 Jan. 2026
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The Regulation Sandbox There is a geopolitical dimension here that appeals to resource realists.—
Güney Yıldız,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pessimist.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pessimist. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.
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