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pessimism

[ˈpesɪmɪzəm]

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

Idioms Using pessimism

  • the glass is half empty

    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.

  • a person who always predicts that bad things will happen

    Example

    He was dismissed as a prophet of doom for his constant pessimism about the economy.

  • to rain on someone's parade

    to spoil someone's plans or happiness

    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'

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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.

How do native speakers use this expression?