Dictionary
pessimistic
adjective pes·si·mis·tic \ˌpe-sə-ˈmis-tik also ˌpe-zə-\
: having or showing a lack of hope for the future : expecting bad things to happen
Full Definition of PESSIMISTIC
— pes·si·mis·ti·cal·ly \-ti-k(ə-)lē\ adverb
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First Known Use of PESSIMISTIC
1868
Related to PESSIMISTIC
- Synonyms
- bearish, defeatist, despairing, downbeat, hopeless
- Antonyms
- hopeful, optimistic, Panglossian, Pollyanna, Pollyannaish (also Polyannish), rose-colored, rosy, upbeat
Synonym Discussion of PESSIMISTIC
cynical, misanthropic, pessimistic mean deeply distrustful. cynical implies having a sneering disbelief in sincerity or integrity <cynical about politicians' motives>. misanthropic suggests a rooted distrust and dislike of human beings and their society <a solitary and misanthropic artist>. pessimistic implies having a gloomy, distrustful view of life <pessimistic about the future>.
Other Psychology Terms
Rhymes with PESSIMISTIC
activistic, agonistic, albinistic, alchemistic, amoristic, animistic, annalistic, aphoristic, archaistic, atavistic, atheistic, atomistic, belletristic, Calvinistic, casuistic, catechistic, centralistic, chauvinistic, classicistic, coloristic, communistic, crosslinguistic, dadaistic, diaristic, dualistic, dyslogistic, egoistic, essayistic, eucharistic, eulogistic, euphemistic, euphuistic, exorcistic, familistic, fatalistic, feministic, feudalistic, fideistic, folkloristic, formalistic, futuristic, gongoristic, haggadistic, Hebraistic, hedonistic, Hellenistic, humanistic, humoristic, idealistic, imagistic, inartistic, Jansenistic, jargonistic, jingoistic, journalistic, Judaistic, kabbalistic, Lamaistic, legalistic, manneristic, masochistic, mechanistic, melanistic, mentalistic, methodistic, modernistic, moralistic, narcissistic, nationalistic, nativistic, nepotistic, nihilistic, novelistic, onanistic, optimistic, pantheistic, parodistic, pianistic, pietistic, Platonistic, pluralistic, pointillistic, populistic, pragmatistic, pugilistic, quietistic, realistic, sciolistic, shamanistic, socialistic, solecistic, solipsistic, syllogistic, symbolistic, synchronistic, syncretistic, synergistic, terroristic, totalistic, totemistic, ultraistic, unrealistic, urbanistic, utopistic, vandalistic, verbalistic, vitalistic, voodooistic, voyeuristic, Zionistic
PESSIMISTICALLY Defined for Kids
pessimistic
adjective pes·si·mis·tic \ˌpe-sə-ˈmi-stik\
Definition of PESSIMISTIC for Kids
1
: tending to think that bad things will happen
2
: having the belief that evil is more common than good
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