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
Beyond their negative outlook on the future of their party, 55% of Democrats are also pessimistic about the way leaders are chosen in the U.S.
—
Linley Sanders, Chicago Tribune, 14 May 2025
The closest comparisons to this year paint an even more pessimistic picture.
—Jesse Pound, CNBC, 28 Apr. 2025
While downgrades are nothing new, Moody’s cited six factors — an unusually large number, with all of them related in one way or the other to Trump policies — for its pessimistic forecast.
—Michael T. Nietzel, Forbes.com, 18 May 2025
Consumers have the most pessimistic outlook since October 2011, according to the Conference Board, driven by fears surrounding tariffs, inflation and the possibility of a recession.
—Ryan Ermey, CNBC, 15 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for pessimistic
Linley Sanders, Chicago Tribune, 14 May 2025
The closest comparisons to this year paint an even more pessimistic picture.
—Jesse Pound, CNBC, 28 Apr. 2025
While downgrades are nothing new, Moody’s cited six factors — an unusually large number, with all of them related in one way or the other to Trump policies — for its pessimistic forecast.
—Michael T. Nietzel, Forbes.com, 18 May 2025
Consumers have the most pessimistic outlook since October 2011, according to the Conference Board, driven by fears surrounding tariffs, inflation and the possibility of a recession.
—Ryan Ermey, CNBC, 15 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for pessimistic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pessimistic
Adjective
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Those nurses never stopped fighting for Mattie, even as her situation seemed hopeless.—
Erin Clack,
People.com,
10 May 2025
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While critical gaps in testing still remain, innovation has ignited a diagnostic boom that has transformed the AIDS fight from hopeless to winnable.—
Jennifer Lotito,
Forbes.com,
23 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Is this a cynical attempt to rescue their party from a political free fall?—
John Opdycke,
The Orlando Sentinel,
21 May 2025
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And so Lee’s reinterpretation strains to leave us on a high instead of a low, as befits the finale of an update so compellingly eager to flip the script on one of Kurosawa’s most cynical films.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
19 May 2025
Adjective
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About 92% of those with positive blood test results had confirmed amyloid plaques, while negative results were confirmed in 97% of participants.—
Jennifer Klump,
Verywell Health,
23 May 2025
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Once a loan is 90 days past due, the loan servicer reports the delinquency to the credit reporting bureaus, which can lower the borrower’s credit score and leave a negative mark on their credit report.—
Kamaron McNair,
CNBC,
23 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pessimistic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pessimistic. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.
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