Definitions
- Describing a person who has given up hope and believes that failure is inevitable. - Referring to an attitude of resignation and acceptance of defeat without trying to change the outcome. - Talking about a mindset that focuses on the negative aspects of a situation and sees no possibility for improvement.
- Describing a person who expects the worst possible outcome in any situation. - Referring to an attitude of negativity and cynicism towards the future. - Talking about a mindset that focuses on the negative aspects of a situation and sees little possibility for improvement.
List of Similarities
- 1Both words describe a negative attitude or mindset.
- 2Both words focus on the negative aspects of a situation.
- 3Both words can be used to describe a person's personality or behavior.
- 4Both words can be used to discourage someone from taking action or trying to improve a situation.
What is the difference?
- 1Scope: Defeatist refers specifically to a belief that failure is inevitable, while pessimist refers more broadly to a negative outlook on life.
- 2Attitude: Defeatist implies a sense of resignation and acceptance of defeat, while pessimist implies a sense of negativity and cynicism.
- 3Cause: Defeatist may stem from past experiences of failure or disappointment, while pessimist may stem from a general lack of optimism or hope.
- 4Intensity: Defeatist implies a more extreme and hopeless attitude than pessimist.
- 5Connotation: Defeatist has a more negative connotation than pessimist, which can sometimes be used in a more neutral or even positive way.
Remember this!
Defeatist and pessimist are synonyms that describe a negative attitude or mindset. However, defeatist specifically refers to a belief that failure is inevitable and implies a sense of resignation and acceptance of defeat, while pessimist refers more broadly to a negative outlook on life and implies a sense of negativity and cynicism.
