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
In a more pessimistic scenario, in which temperatures rise nearly 2 degrees Fahrenheit (1 degree Celsius), even warmer than the other scenario, larger hail jumps by 47%.
—
Seth Borenstein, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2026
The share of employers with a pessimistic view of the job market for new grads has been rising every year since 2022.
—Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 29 May 2026
The nine-episode drama sci-fi series follows Carol (Rhea Seehorn), a pessimistic woman who must try to save the world from an infectious virus when a mysterious alien collective possesses human bodies and their consciousness on a global scale.
—Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 26 May 2026
Even the most pessimistic fan would have done well to predict how much Liverpool have regressed.
—Andy Jones, New York Times, 25 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for pessimistic
Seth Borenstein, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2026
The share of employers with a pessimistic view of the job market for new grads has been rising every year since 2022.
—Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 29 May 2026
The nine-episode drama sci-fi series follows Carol (Rhea Seehorn), a pessimistic woman who must try to save the world from an infectious virus when a mysterious alien collective possesses human bodies and their consciousness on a global scale.
—Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 26 May 2026
Even the most pessimistic fan would have done well to predict how much Liverpool have regressed.
—Andy Jones, New York Times, 25 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for pessimistic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pessimistic
Adjective
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Written and directed by Barker, Obsession centers on a music store employee named Bear (Michael Johnston), a hopeless romantic who has fallen for a co-worker named Nikki (Inde Navarette).—
Chris Gardner,
HollywoodReporter,
10 June 2026
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Felicity Thoughtful, impulsive, hopeless romantic whose hair choices overshadowed everything.—
Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal,
Parents,
9 June 2026
Adjective
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This is cynical political theater.—
Melissa Gomez,
Los Angeles Times,
9 June 2026
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The overpowering moral authority of wronged women, #MeToo’s skeptics alleged, would allow cynical wrongdoers to weaponize claims of victimhood for their own gain.—
Moira Donegan,
New Yorker,
9 June 2026
Adjective
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Courage California’s Kao said the negative ads may have reflected poorly on Steyer, whose favorability ratings were nearly 10 percentage points lower than Becerra’s in a final UC Berkeley poll in late May.—
Ben Paviour,
Sacbee.com,
10 June 2026
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The mother-in-law tends to be very negative, and is known to say unkind things about whoever isn’t present.—
Judith Martin,
Mercury News,
10 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pessimistic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pessimistic. Accessed 15 Jun. 2026.
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