Meaning & use
pessimistic
Last updated
Meanings
adjectivecomparable
Expecting bad things to happen or believing that things will turn out badly.
Grammar: Used after linking verbs like be, seem, feel, or before a noun: She is pessimistic about the plan.
Patterns
- pessimistic about something
- be pessimistic that ...
- feel pessimistic
My father is pessimistic about the economy and thinks prices will keep rising.
She sounded pessimistic when she said the team had no chance of winning.
Don't be so pessimistic — the test may be easier than you think.
adjectivebefore a noun
Showing a tendency to notice only the bad side of a situation or idea.
Grammar: Comes before a noun to describe a view, mood, or report: a pessimistic forecast.
Patterns
- a pessimistic view
- a pessimistic forecast
- a pessimistic mood
The report paints a pessimistic picture of the company's future.
His pessimistic attitude makes it hard for the rest of us to stay hopeful.
Word forms
| comparative | more pessimistic |
|---|---|
| superlative | most pessimistic |
Common combinations
- pessimistic about
- Many voters are pessimistic about the country's future.
- deeply pessimistic
- After the losses, he became deeply pessimistic.
- pessimistic view
- She has a rather pessimistic view of human nature.
- sound pessimistic
- The weather forecast sounds pessimistic for the weekend.
- cautiously pessimistic
- Analysts are cautiously pessimistic about next year's sales.
Synonyms and how they differ
- negative
- Broader and more general; it can describe any unhelpful or gloomy attitude, while pessimistic specifically means expecting bad outcomes.
- gloomy
- Describes a sad, dark mood as well as a bad outlook; pessimistic focuses on what someone expects to happen.
- defeatist
- Stronger and disapproving: it suggests giving up because you believe you will lose, not just expecting the worst.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: pessimistic or cynical?
pessimistic vs cynical
Cynical means doubting other people's honesty or good intentions; pessimistic is only about expecting bad results, not about distrust.
Practice
Which sentence uses "pessimistic" correctly?
Choose one answer.
"Pessimistic about" is the standard pattern when naming the situation you expect to go badly. "Pessimistic to/for/of" are not used with this adjective.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “pessimistic”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.