1
as in hopeless
emphasizing or expecting the worst
with that pessimistic attitude, it's no wonder you're depressed
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 pessimistic
Americans are feeling pessimistic about the economy and his fellow Republicans are sweating the upcoming midterms.
—
Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 24 Feb. 2026
Recent economic data offered a buoyant picture of the US economy, even if many Americans remain pessimistic.
—Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 16 Feb. 2026
That leaves plenty of room for investors’ imaginations—both optimistic and pessimistic—to run wild.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 16 Feb. 2026
From a pessimistic perspective, the group behind Peralta has too many questions.
—Will Sammon, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pessimistic
Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 24 Feb. 2026
Recent economic data offered a buoyant picture of the US economy, even if many Americans remain pessimistic.
—Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 16 Feb. 2026
That leaves plenty of room for investors’ imaginations—both optimistic and pessimistic—to run wild.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 16 Feb. 2026
From a pessimistic perspective, the group behind Peralta has too many questions.
—Will Sammon, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pessimistic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pessimistic
Adjective
-
In a more simplistic story, Derya and Aziz’s efforts to find a good private school for their daughter would come off as a hopeless bourgeois indulgence.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
26 Feb. 2026
-
The result has been a bloodbath in the state of Sinaloa, with thousands killed, thousands more missing and the violence reaching such heights that the Mexican government looks hopeless, if not hapless.—
Daniel DePetris,
Chicago Tribune,
24 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Which is a bit of a cynical play.—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
2 Mar. 2026
-
Jisoo is paired with Seo In-guk, who plays her cynical real-world rival.—
Jessica Radloff,
Glamour,
1 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
In fact, following a low-protein diet can have negative effects on older adults’ bone health and muscle mass.—
Jillian Kubala,
Health,
4 Mar. 2026
-
California schools now face legal pressure to disclose student gender information to parents, even when students fear negative family reactions.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pessimistic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pessimistic. Accessed 5 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
