Pessimism

//ˈpɛsɪmɪzəm// noun

noun ·Uncommon ·College level

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    A general belief that bad things will happen. uncountable, usually

    "T2 isn’t as good as T1: it is a little too long and unwinds a bit into caper sentimentality, broad comedy and self-mythologising. But it has the same punchy energy, the same defiant pessimism, and there’s nothing around like it. This sequel was a high-wire act, but Boyle has made it to the other side."

  2. 2
    a general disposition to look on the dark side and to expect the worst in all things wordnet
  3. 3
    The doctrine that this world is the worst of all possible worlds. uncountable, usually
  4. 4
    the feeling that things will turn out badly wordnet
  5. 5
    The condition of being pessimal. uncountable, usually

Synonyms

All synonyms
anxietyapprehensionatomismblank despondencycliff hangingcliff-hanging

Example

More examples

"The article's tone was one of pessimism."

Etymology

From French pessimisme, from Latin pessimus (“worst”) + -ism, superlative of malus (“bad”). As a doctrine, from German Pessimismus as used by the German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer in 1819.

Related phrases

Afro-pessimismcultural pessimism

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Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.