Overoptimism: meaning, definitions and examples

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overoptimism

 

[ ˌoʊvərˈɑːptɪmɪzm ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

general attitude

Overoptimism refers to an exaggerated belief that success is achievable or days will improve significantly, often disregarding potential challenges or risks. This mindset can lead individuals or groups to overlook critical details or underestimate obstacles that might interfere with their goals. As a psychological concept, overoptimism may result in poor decision-making or planning, as people might ignore warning signs. It is commonly observed in fields like finance, project management, and personal goal setting.

Synonyms

blind optimism, excessive optimism, naive optimism

Examples of usage

  • His overoptimism about the project led to significant delays.
  • Overoptimism can often cloud one's judgment in business.
  • The team's overoptimism caused them to ignore critical feedback.

Translations

Translations of the word "overoptimism" in other languages:

🇵🇹 otimismo excessivo

🇮🇳 अत्यधिक आशावादिता

🇩🇪 Überoptimismus

🇮🇩 overoptimisme

🇺🇦 надмірний оптимізм

🇵🇱 nadmierny optymizm

🇯🇵 過度の楽観主義

🇫🇷 suroptimisme

🇪🇸 sobreoptimismo

🇹🇷 aşırı iyimserlik

🇰🇷 과도한 낙관주의

🇸🇦 التفاؤل المفرط

🇨🇿 přehnaný optimismus

🇸🇰 nadmerný optimizmus

🇨🇳 过度乐观

🇸🇮 prekomerni optimizem

🇮🇸 ofurmennski

🇰🇿 артық оптимизм

🇬🇪 მეტისმეტად ოპტიმიზმი

🇦🇿 təhlükəli optimizm

🇲🇽 sobreoptimismo

Etymology

The term 'overoptimism' is derived from the combination of 'over', indicating excess, and 'optimism', which originates from the Latin word 'optimum', meaning 'best'. Optimism as a philosophical concept has roots in the Enlightenment, where it was popularized by philosophers such as Leibniz, who suggested that our world is the best of all possible worlds. Over time, this notion evolved to describe not just a philosophical ideal but also a personality trait. The prefix 'over-' was added in modern usage to highlight an extreme or excessive level of this optimism. The term has gained traction in psychology and business discourse, particularly as discussions around risk management have become more prevalent, acknowledging the potential pitfalls of having an overly positive outlook.