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
Mamdani portrayed himself as a change candidate seeking to uplift New Yorkers’ broadly pessimistic attitudes about the city’s direction.
—
Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 25 June 2025
His comments on Tuesday were not unusually pessimistic.
—Jesse Pound, CNBC, 11 June 2025
Trump’s tariffs have made U.S. households feel more pessimistic about where the economy and inflation are heading, but reports have suggested only a moderate hit so far.
—Stan Choe, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2025
The survey — which sampled 1,265 registered voters June 5-9 — also found that Americans are pessimistic about the likelihood that a ceasefire will be achieved soon.
—Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 12 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for pessimistic
Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 25 June 2025
His comments on Tuesday were not unusually pessimistic.
—Jesse Pound, CNBC, 11 June 2025
Trump’s tariffs have made U.S. households feel more pessimistic about where the economy and inflation are heading, but reports have suggested only a moderate hit so far.
—Stan Choe, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2025
The survey — which sampled 1,265 registered voters June 5-9 — also found that Americans are pessimistic about the likelihood that a ceasefire will be achieved soon.
—Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 12 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for pessimistic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pessimistic
Adjective
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In a time when the suffering and seemingly hopeless prospects of America’s poor are known to all who have eyes to see, the only fig leaf available to hide the obscenity of this bill is the old partisan charge of waste, fraud and abuse.—
Clarence Page,
Chicago Tribune,
6 July 2025
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Valentine, Texas, stamps 10,000+ love letters each year For more than three decades, the small-town Valentine Post Office — also known as the Love Station — has processed thousands of love letters from hopeless romantics around the world.—
Brandi D. Addison,
Austin American Statesman,
2 July 2025
Adjective
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The cynical view would be that Trump is looking for a reason to have federal troops join ICE in rounding up undocumented immigrants that Mamdani tries to protect, and to arrest local officials who get in their way.—
Anna Commander,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 July 2025
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There is a certain business logic to that; from a cynical perspective, if a £10million investment fails to live up to expectations, the financial downside for the buying club is relatively small — and in many cases, he will be sold to somewhere lower down the sport’s food chain.—
Oliver Kay,
New York Times,
8 July 2025
Adjective
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Kotsay said Wilson has a left wrist contusion, but that X-rays returned negative and that Wilson would be day-to-day.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
10 July 2025
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The numbers say he’s been toward the back of the pack, though, and that’s on top of a negative grade on the bases and a below average bat.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
10 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pessimistic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pessimistic. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.
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