Pessimistic
/ˌpɛsɪˈmɪstɪk/
Definitions
Having or showing a lack of hope for the future; expecting the worst in a given situation.
/ˌpɛsɪˈmɪstɪk/
Expecting the worst in a given situation.
He was pessimistic about his chances of winning the lottery.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're looking at a situation and always thinking, 'Oh no, this is going to go badly!' That's being pessimistic. It's like when you expect it to rain even if the sun is shining. A pessimistic person is always prepared for the worst.
👶 For kids: When you think bad things will happen.
More Examples
The report paints a pessimistic picture of the company's future.
Despite all the evidence, she remained pessimistic.
How It's Used
"She has a pessimistic outlook on life."
"Economists are pessimistic about the country's economic growth."
"The therapist helped the patient overcome their pessimistic thoughts."
Idioms & expressions
pessimistic outlook
A general tendency to expect negative outcomes or experiences.
"Her pessimistic outlook on relationships made it hard for her to trust people."
glass half-empty
A pessimistic outlook on life.
"The cynic always sees the glass as half-empty, never appreciating what is there."
From French *pessimiste*, from Latin *pessimus* 'worst'. The term gained traction in the 19th century, particularly associated with philosophical pessimism.
The word's association with philosophical and literary movements gained prominence in the 19th century, used to describe writers and thinkers who focused on the negative aspects of human existence.
Memory tip
Think of a glass – a pessimist sees it as half-empty.
Word Origin
"worst"