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pessimism

/ˌpɛsəˈmɪzəm/

/ˈpɛsɪmɪzəm/

IPA guide

Other forms: pessimisms

Pessimism means thinking the worst. It's the opposite of optimism, which means assuming the best. Most people feel that too much pessimism is paralyzing — who will ever try anything if they are always sure they will fail?

Pessimism comes in two flavors. With one, you feel that something bad will happen. You feel pessimistic about the geometry final. How will you pass it? Pessimism is also the tendency to expect the worst in everything. A pessimist in love is a person sure that there must be something wrong with the person to love them back. A pessimist on an airplane is sure the plane is missing some essential part that won't be noticed until it plummets from the sky. Can pessimism be fun? Not really ever.

Definitions of pessimism
  1. noun
    a general disposition to look on the dark side and to expect the worst in all things
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    antonyms:
    optimism
    a general disposition to expect the best in all things
    type of:
    disposition, temperament
    your usual mood
  2. noun
    the feeling that things will turn out badly
    see moresee less
    antonyms:
    optimism
    the optimistic feeling that all is going to turn out well
    types:
    cynicism
    a cynical feeling of distrust
    type of:
    despair
    the feeling that everything is wrong and nothing will turn out well
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