Pessimistic: meaning, definitions and examples

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pessimistic

[ ˌpesɪˈmɪstɪk ]

^{Context #1}

outlook on life

Tending to see the worst aspect of things or believe that the worst will happen.

Synonyms

cynical, defeatist, negative

Examples of usage

He had a pessimistic view of the company's future.
She was pessimistic about her chances of success.

^{Context #2}

personality trait

Showing a lack of hope or confidence in the future.

Synonyms

despondent, gloomy, melancholic

Examples of usage

His pessimistic attitude was affecting the team morale.
The pessimistic students were not motivated to study.

^{Context #3}

weather forecast

Expecting the weather to be bad or unpleasant.

Synonyms

bleak, gloomy, grim

Examples of usage

The weather report was pessimistic, predicting heavy rain all week.
The pessimistic forecast led to many event cancellations.

Translations

Translations of the word "pessimistic" in other languages:

🇵🇹 pessimista

🇮🇳 निराशावादी

🇩🇪 pessimistisch

🇮🇩 pesimis

🇺🇦 песимістичний

🇵🇱 pesymistyczny

🇯🇵 悲観的 (ひかんてき)

🇫🇷 pessimiste

🇪🇸 pesimista

🇹🇷 kötümser

🇰🇷 비관적 (비관적인)

🇸🇦 متشائم

🇨🇿 pessimistický

🇸🇰 pesimistický

🇨🇳 悲观的 (悲觀的)

🇸🇮 pesimističen

🇮🇸 svartsýnn

🇰🇿 пессимистік

🇬🇪 პესიმისტური

🇦🇿 pessimist

🇲🇽 pesimista

Word origin

The word 'pessimistic' originated from the Latin word 'pessimus' meaning 'worst'. It first appeared in English in the mid-18th century. The concept of pessimism has been explored by various philosophers and thinkers throughout history, such as Arthur Schopenhauer and Friedrich Nietzsche, who delved into the idea of a pessimistic view of the world.