Adjacent Words

pessimism definitions

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WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: the feeling that things will turn out badly [ant: optimism]
2: a general disposition to look on the dark side and to expect the worst in all things [ant: optimism]

Merriam Webster's

noun Etymology: French pessimisme, from Latin pessimus worst — more at pejorative Date: 1815 1. an inclination to emphasize adverse aspects, conditions, and possibilities or to expect the worst possible outcome 2. a. the doctrine that reality is essentially evil b. the doctrine that evil overbalances happiness in life • pessimist noun

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. 1 a tendency to take the worst view or expect the worst outcome. 2 Philos. a belief that this world is as bad as it could be or that all things tend to evil (opp. OPTIMISM). Derivatives: pessimist n. pessimistic adj. pessimistically adv. Etymology: L pessimus worst, after OPTIMISM

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Pessimism Pes"si*mism, n. [L. pessimus worst, superl. of pejor worse: cf. F. pessimisme. Cf. Impair.] 1. (Metaph.) The opinion or doctrine that everything in nature is ordered for or tends to the worst, or that the world is wholly evil; -- opposed to optimism. 2. A disposition to take the least hopeful view of things.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

Pessimism is the belief that bad things are going to happen. ...universal pessimism about the economy... My first reaction was one of deep pessimism. ? optimism N-UNCOUNT: oft N about/over n

Moby Thesaurus

Schmerz, Slough of Despond, anxiety, apprehension, blank despondency, cliff-hanging, cynicism, death wish, defeatism, dejectedness, dejection, depression, despair, despondency, despondentness, discouragement, disheartenment, dismalness, dispiritedness, down trip, downcastness, downer, downheartedness, dread, drooping spirits, expectant waiting, gloominess, gloomy outlook, heartlessness, hopelessness, low spirits, lowness, lowness of spirit, malaise, malism, negativism, nihilism, oppression, retreatism, self-destructive urge, sinking heart, spiritlessness, suicidal despair, suspense, taedium vitae, uncertainty, uncheerfulness, waiting, weariness of life