pessimistic

adjective

pes·​si·​mis·​tic ˌpe-sə-ˈmi-stik How to pronounce pessimistic (audio)
also ˌpe-zə-
Synonyms of pessimistic
: of, relating to, or characterized by pessimism : gloomy
pessimistically
ˌpe-sə-ˈmi-sti-k(ə-)lē How to pronounce pessimistic (audio)
also ˌpe-zə-
adverb

Synonyms of pessimistic

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cynical, misanthropic, pessimistic mean deeply distrustful.

cynical implies having a sneering disbelief in sincerity or integrity.

cynical about politicians' motives

misanthropic suggests a rooted distrust and dislike of human beings and their society.

a solitary and misanthropic artist

pessimistic implies having a gloomy, distrustful view of life.

pessimistic about the future

Examples of pessimistic in a Sentence

Most doctors were pessimistic that a cure could be found. The film gives a very pessimistic view of human nature. He has an extremely negative and pessimistic attitude.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Also hitting the road was Vice President JD Vance, who campaigned in North Carolina, where Republicans have been pessimistic about retaining a Senate seat. — Will Weissert, Chicago Tribune, 29 Oct. 2026 But dependency theorists took a more pessimistic view of the possibility of economic development in peripheral countries under global capitalism. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 27 Oct. 2026 For now, the AI anxiety appears confined to credit investors, by nature a more dour and pessimistic bunch than stockholders. — Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 26 Oct. 2026 Overall, 63% of the public is pessimistic about the current state of the economy and the outlook, up 1 percentage point from the July survey. — Steve Liesman, CNBC, 22 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for pessimistic

Word History

Etymology

pessimist + -ic entry 1

First Known Use

1865, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pessimistic was in 1865

Rhymes for pessimistic

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Browse Nearby Words

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Cite this Entry

“Pessimistic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pessimistic. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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Kids Definition

pessimistic

adjective
pes·​si·​mis·​tic ˌpes-ə-ˈmis-tik How to pronounce pessimistic (audio)
: of, relating to, or marked by pessimism : gloomy
pessimistically
-ti-k(ə-)lē How to pronounce pessimistic (audio)
adverb
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