Pessimism: meaning, definitions and examples

Describing a general belief that bad things will happen or that things will not get better.

• Her constant pessimism about the future made it hard for her to enjoy the present
• His pessimism grew as the year progressed, expecting more setbacks

Expressing a general attitude of disapproval or a tendency to focus on the negative aspects of situations.

• His constant negativity at work brought down the morale of his colleagues
• She had a negativity that made it hard for her to see any good in people

Showing a distrust of people's motives, believing that people are primarily motivated by self-interest.

• His cynicism about politics led him to believe that all politicians were corrupt
• Her cynicism made it hard for her to trust anyone's intentions

Displaying an attitude of expecting to fail or giving up easily without trying.

• His defeatism was evident when he surrendered before even attempting the challenge
• Her defeatism made the team feel discouraged and uninspired

Pessimism is used to describe a general tendency to expect the worst outcome in any situation. It is a broader term that can be used in multiple contexts, including everyday conversations, literature, and psychology.

• Her pessimism about the project discouraged everyone.
• Despite the team's early successes, he held on to his pessimism.

Nihilism is a belief that life is without objective meaning, purpose, or intrinsic value. It is often used in philosophical or existential discussions and has a more intellectual and sometimes darker connotation than the other words in the list.

• The character in the novel embraces nihilism, believing that nothing matters.
• His nihilism led him to a life of discontent and disengagement.

Despondency refers to a state of low spirits caused by loss of hope or courage. It is typically used in more intense contexts than 'pessimism', often to describe a profound emotional state and is commonly found in literature and mental health discussions.

• After failing the exam for the third time, he fell into a state of despondency.
• Her despondency was apparent after the bad news.

Bleakness is often used to describe a situation, landscape or a future prospect that looks very depressing or without hope. It may be used in descriptive writing, weather reports, or discussions about the future.

• The bleakness of the winter landscape was overwhelming.
• There was a sense of bleakness in the town after the factory closed down.