1
as in hopeless
emphasizing or expecting the worst
with that pessimistic attitude, it's no wonder you're depressed
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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
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Recent Examples of pessimistic
The thought, the incredibly pessimistic thought, is that those who bought the debt of too many high-risk enterprise software companies may not make it because of the amazing AI products out there now, even as the portfolio companies of the two biggest private equity firms are about AI.
—
Jim Cramer, CNBC, 1 Mar. 2026
This is a pessimistic line of thinking.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 27 Feb. 2026
But the most pessimistic scenarios are, for the moment, unlikely.
—Idrees Kahloon, The Atlantic, 26 Feb. 2026
Who are these pessimistic weather people?
—Ticked Off, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pessimistic
Jim Cramer, CNBC, 1 Mar. 2026
This is a pessimistic line of thinking.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 27 Feb. 2026
But the most pessimistic scenarios are, for the moment, unlikely.
—Idrees Kahloon, The Atlantic, 26 Feb. 2026
Who are these pessimistic weather people?
—Ticked Off, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pessimistic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pessimistic
Adjective
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Moreover, Munis said, with enough notice a heavy-hitting Democrat might have entered the contest, instead of the lowly bunch now running hopeless campaigns.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Mar. 2026
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And for the hopeless romantics among us, there’s confessions of love, yearning, and unlikely lovers.—
De Elizabeth,
Glamour,
17 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The result is a movie where the jokes are just mean, and the meanness isn’t funny, leading to a cynical denouement that’s been done many times before.—
Katie Rife,
IndieWire,
16 Mar. 2026
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Fit matters, especially in a place as cold and cynical as an NFL locker room.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
16 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The Texas Education Agency has asked a federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit brought by one of the state’s largest teachers unions over the agency’s investigations into educators who made negative comments about Charlie Kirk after his assassinations.—
Keri Heath,
Austin American Statesman,
18 Mar. 2026
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Positive customer feedback often highlights responsive communication and knowledgeable staff, while some negative reviews note that not all cases result in successful debt resolution.—
Adam Palasciano,
USA Today,
18 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pessimistic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pessimistic. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.
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