Meaning & use
pessimism
Last updated
UK/ˈpesɪmɪzəm/
US/ˈpesɪmɪzəm/
Meaning
noununcountable
A general attitude of expecting bad things to happen or focusing on the negative side.
Grammar: Uncountable: no plural, and no 'a' before it. Say 'a sense of pessimism', not 'a pessimism'.
Patterns
- pessimism about something
- a mood of pessimism
- deep pessimism
His pessimism about the future made it hard for him to try new things.
There is growing pessimism among workers about job security.
She tried to fight her natural pessimism and stay hopeful.
Common combinations
- deep pessimism
- The report showed deep pessimism about the economy.
- growing pessimism
- Growing pessimism among investors caused stock prices to fall.
- a mood of pessimism
- A mood of pessimism spread through the office after the announcement.
- pessimism about
- Her pessimism about the trip made everyone else worried.
- overcome pessimism
- He worked hard to overcome his pessimism and see the good side.
Synonyms and how they differ
- negativity
- A broader word for a negative attitude or outlook; 'pessimism' specifically focuses on expecting bad outcomes.
- cynicism
- Cynicism involves distrust of people's motives, while pessimism is about expecting bad events.
- defeatism
- Defeatism is a willingness to accept failure without a fight; pessimism is simply expecting the worst.
Opposites
Word family
- pessimist noun
- A person who tends to expect bad things to happen.
- pessimistic adjective
- Expecting bad things to happen; showing pessimism.
- pessimistically adverb
- In a way that shows pessimism.
Commonly confused: pessimism or optimism?
pessimism vs optimism
Optimism is the opposite: expecting good things to happen.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'pessimism' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Pessimism' is uncountable, so it does not take 'a' or a plural form. We say 'felt pessimism'.
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