1
as in hopeless
emphasizing or expecting the worst
with that pessimistic attitude, it's no wonder you're depressed
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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
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Recent Examples of pessimistic
The 28-year-old, who spent nine years with Everton, has scored eight goals in his last 10 appearances, so naturally pessimistic/realistic Evertonians know their team need to score at least twice to win this one.
—
Tim Spiers, New York Times, 26 Jan. 2026
What Analysts Are Saying Despite the average analyst inclination towards the status quo or pessimistic scenarios, the $29 average price target masks mixed views.
—Peter Cohan, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
For the past two years, the percentage of respondents offering that pessimistic assessment has held steady.
—Mark Davis, USA Today, 20 Jan. 2026
Researchers from the British Antarctic Survey and University of Southampton said last June that the continent's emperor penguin population may be declining faster than even the most pessimistic predictions.
—CBS News, 20 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pessimistic
Tim Spiers, New York Times, 26 Jan. 2026
What Analysts Are Saying Despite the average analyst inclination towards the status quo or pessimistic scenarios, the $29 average price target masks mixed views.
—Peter Cohan, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
For the past two years, the percentage of respondents offering that pessimistic assessment has held steady.
—Mark Davis, USA Today, 20 Jan. 2026
Researchers from the British Antarctic Survey and University of Southampton said last June that the continent's emperor penguin population may be declining faster than even the most pessimistic predictions.
—CBS News, 20 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pessimistic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pessimistic
Adjective
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Near the end of the movie, there’s a heavy sense of dread—everyone feels hopeless, and exhausted.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Jan. 2026
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Here is the regular guy who loves shooting hoops, who is hopeless with a hammer, who loves a self-deprecating story about walking into a glass wall or almost falling off a ladder, and whose wife, Lori, is always, always right.—
Gal Beckerman,
The Atlantic,
27 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Overall, the county’s business community is feeling cynical about the state of the economy, with two-thirds of merchants reporting a negative future outlook, the study’s authors said.—
Claire Wang,
Oc Register,
23 Jan. 2026
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The interior dining room, divided into two levels and connected by a slowly sloping ramp, could at first cynical glance register as backdrop.—
Bill Addison,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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And one of the main lessons that will be learned from that account is that while the harms that occurred came quickly and sometimes surprisingly easily, their negative consequences — on universities and society at large — will linger for a long time.—
Michael T. Nietzel,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
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The rapid rise of AI technology has had negative effects on the climate and humanity, albeit indirectly.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
28 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pessimistic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pessimistic. Accessed 3 Feb. 2026.
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