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Definition of pessimistic

pessimistic

/ˌpɛs.əˈmɪs.tɪk/
pes · si · mis · tic
Adverb:pessimistically
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pessimistic Lexical Profile

pessimistic Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Tending to see the worst aspect of things or believe that the worst will happen; lacking hope or confidence in the future.

Example

"The economists issued a pessimistic forecast for the housing market over the next two years."

2

Relating to or characterized by the philosophical doctrine that reality is fundamentally flawed and that evil outweighs good in the world.

Example

"Arthur Schopenhauer is widely known for his deeply pessimistic philosophy regarding human desire and suffering."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for pessimistic

• Nearby Words

peso
pessimism
pessimist
pessimistic
pessimistically
pest
pester

Word Origin & Etymology

Derived from the noun 'pessimism', which comes from the Latin 'pessimus', meaning 'worst' (the superlative of 'malus', meaning 'bad').

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Pessimistic. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/pessimistic
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