Pessimism \Pes"si*mism\, n. [L. pessimus worst, superl. of pejor
worse: cf. F. pessimisme. Cf. Impair.]
1. (Metaph.) The opinion or doctrine that everything in
nature is ordered for or tends to the worst, or that the
world is wholly evil; -- opposed to optimism.
[1913 Webster]
2. A disposition to take the least hopeful view of a
situation.
[1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
pessimism
n 1: the feeling that things will turn out badly [ant: optimism]
2: a general disposition to look on the dark side and to expect
the worst in all things [ant: optimism]
WordNet (r) 2.0
49 Moby Thesaurus words for "pessimism":
Schmerz, Slough of Despond, anxiety, apprehension,
blank despondency, cliff-hanging, cynicism, death wish, defeatism,
dejectedness, dejection, depression, despair, despondency,
despondentness, discouragement, disheartenment, dismalness,
dispiritedness, down trip, downcastness, downer, downheartedness,
dread, drooping spirits, expectant waiting, gloominess,
gloomy outlook, heartlessness, hopelessness, low spirits, lowness,
lowness of spirit, malaise, malism, negativism, nihilism,
oppression, retreatism, self-destructive urge, sinking heart,
spiritlessness, suicidal despair, suspense, taedium vitae,
uncertainty, uncheerfulness, waiting, weariness of life
Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0
PESSIMISM, n. A philosophy forced upon the convictions of the
observer by the disheartening prevalence of the optimist with his
scarecrow hope and his unsightly smile.
THE DEVIL'S DICTIONARY ((C)1911 Released April 15 1993)
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