pessimism Definition
- 1a tendency to see the worst aspect of things or believe that the worst will happen
- 2a belief that evil is more powerful than good
Using pessimism: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "pessimism" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
His pessimism about the future of the company was contagious.
Example
The book is a critique of modern-day pessimism.
Example
Her pessimism about the outcome of the election was unfounded.
Example
The team's pessimism about their chances of winning the championship was unwarranted.
pessimism Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for pessimism
Antonyms for pessimism
Idioms Using pessimism
a way of saying that a situation is not good, rather than saying that it is good
Example
He always sees the glass as half empty, never half full.
Example
He was dismissed as a prophet of doom for his constant pessimism about the economy.
Example
Don't be such a pessimist and try not to rain on our parade.
Phrases with pessimism
the belief that life has no intrinsic value or meaning, and that suffering outweighs any potential happiness or pleasure
Example
The philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer is known for his advocacy of philosophical pessimism.
a condition in which a person or animal has learned to behave helplessly, failing to respond even when there are opportunities for it to help itself
Example
The psychologist Martin Seligman conducted experiments on learned helplessness in dogs.
self-fulfilling prophecy
a prediction that causes itself to come true due to the simple fact that the prediction was made
Example
Her pessimistic attitude became a self-fulfilling prophecy, as her negative expectations led to failure.
Origins of pessimism
from French 'pessimisme', from Latin 'pessimus', meaning 'worst'
Summary: pessimism in Brief
The term 'pessimism' [ˈpesɪmɪzəm] refers to a tendency to see the worst aspect of things or believe that the worst will happen. It can also refer to the belief that evil is more powerful than good. Examples include 'His pessimism about the future of the company was contagious.' and 'The team's pessimism about their chances of winning the championship was unwarranted.' Phrases like 'philosophical pessimism' and 'self-fulfilling prophecy' extend the concept, while idioms like 'the glass is half empty' and 'to rain on someone's parade' illustrate the negative impact of pessimism.
