Synonyms of pessimistic

pessimistic

adjective

ˌpe-sə-ˈmi-stik 

1

as in hopeless

emphasizing or expecting the worst

with that pessimistic attitude, it's no wonder you're depressed

Synonyms & Similar Words

• hopeless
• cynical
• negative
• despairing
• bleak
• depressing
• defeatist
• desperate
• discouraging
• downbeat
• bearish
• fatalistic
• grim
• nihilistic
• somber
• unlikely
• sombre
• hostile
• morose
• gloomy
• cheerless
• disheartening
• inauspicious
• sullen
• unpromising
• nihilist
• dismal
• sepulchral
• dreary
• funereal
• saturnine
• contrary
• desolate
• comfortless

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• optimistic
• hopeful
• rosy
• upbeat
• likely
• bright
• promising
• fair
• encouraging
• golden
• positive
• propitious
• auspicious
• heartening
• Pollyannaish
• favorable
• Pollyannish
• reassuring
• good
• Panglossian
• Pollyanna
• comforting
• rose-colored
• romantic
• utopian
• visionary
• idealist
• cheerful
• cheery
• sunny
• cheering
• chipper

2

as in cynical

having or showing a deep distrust of human beings and their motives

pessimistic about the prospects for a lasting peace in the area

Synonyms & Similar Words

• cynical
• ironical
• ironic
• negative
• misanthropic
• sarcastic
• skeptical
• negativistic
• fatalistic
• sardonic
• distrustful
• defeatist
• derisive
• mistrustful
• suspicious
• mocking
• scornful
• negativist
• jaded
• unsentimental
• worldly-wise
• hard-bitten
• sophisticated
• hard-edged
• hard-boiled
• hardcase

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• optimistic
• positive
• cheerful
• trustful
• trusting
• positivistic
• unsuspicious
• naive
• positivist
• naïve
• uncynical
• unsophisticated
• idealistic
• romantic
• innocent
• ingenuous
• impractical
• sentimental
• rose-colored
• sappy
• saccharine
• mushy
• maudlin

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective pessimistic differ from other similar words?

The words cynical and misanthropic are common synonyms of pessimistic. While all three words mean "deeply distrustful," pessimistic implies having a gloomy, distrustful view of life.

pessimistic about the future

When could cynical be used to replace pessimistic?

The synonyms cynical and pessimistic are sometimes interchangeable, but cynical implies having a sneering disbelief in sincerity or integrity.

cynical about politicians' motives

Where would misanthropic be a reasonable alternative to pessimistic?

The meanings of misanthropic and pessimistic largely overlap; however, misanthropic suggests a rooted distrust and dislike of human beings and their society.

a solitary and misanthropic artist

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of pessimistic

There were no pessimistic predictions, no scenarios in which A.I. failed or caused harm. —Kyle Chayka, New Yorker, 25 June 2025

For those more pessimistic: The only team to win the World Series after getting shut out in three consecutive games was the 1913 Philadelphia A’s. —Chris Kirschner, New York Times, 18 June 2025

Just 19 per cent are optimistic about the wider UK economy over the next year, versus 63 per cent who are pessimistic – even though 69 per cent remain upbeat about their own firms. —Philip Salter, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025

Veteran workers, in contrast, are more pessimistic about the tools and the impact of AI on their jobs, according to surveys. —John Kell, Fortune, 2 July 2025