pessimism

Noun

Meaning

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.

A disposition to take the least hopeful view of things.

Source: Webster's dictionary

Synonyms

depression blues melancholia doubt distress grief despair skepticism sorrow distrust misery melancholy disbelief sadness desperation

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Antonyms

optimism bliss felicity jinks beatitude jamboree

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Hypernyms

despair temperament disposition

Hyponyms

cynicism

Related terms

pessimistic pessimist

Examples

Pessimism never won any battle. Dwight D. Eisenhower

I don't believe in pessimism. If something doesn't come up the way you want, forge ahead. If you think it's going to rain, it will. Clint Eastwood

Pessimism of the intellect, optimism of the will. Antonio Gramsci

Pessimism is a luxury that a Jew can never allow himself. Golda Meir

Optimism doesn't wait on facts. It deals with prospects. Pessimism is a waste of time. Norman Cousins

To think in terms of either pessimism or optimism oversimplifies the truth. The problem is to see reality as it is. Nhat Hanh

Close letter words and terms

pessimality pessimally pessimise pessimist pessimistic pessimistic attitude