Definitions for Pessimism
ˈpɛs əˌmɪz əmpes·simism

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:5.0 / 1 vote

1. pessimismnoun

   the feeling that things will turn out badly

2. pessimismnoun

   a general disposition to look on the dark side and to expect the worst in all things

WiktionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. pessimismnoun

   A general belief that bad things will happen.

2. pessimismnoun

   The doctrine that this world is the worst of all possible worlds.

WikipediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Pessimism

   Pessimism is a negative mental attitude in which an undesirable outcome is anticipated from a given situation. Pessimists tend to focus on the negatives of life in general. A common question asked to test for pessimism is "Is the glass half empty or half full?"; in this situation, a pessimist is said to see the glass as half empty, while an optimist is said to see the glass as half full. Throughout history, the pessimistic disposition has had effects on all major areas of thinking.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:4.0 / 1 vote

1. Pessimismnoun

   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

2. Pessimismnoun

   a disposition to take the least hopeful view of things

3. Etymology: [L. pessimus worst, superl. of pejor worse: cf. F. pessimisme. Cf. Impair.]

WikidataRate this definition:5.0 / 3 votes

1. Pessimism

   Pessimism is a state of mind in which one anticipates undesirable outcomes or believes that the evil or hardships in life outweigh the good or luxuries. Value judgments may vary dramatically between individuals, even when judgments of fact are undisputed. The most common example of this phenomenon is the "Is the glass half empty or half full?" situation. The degree in which situations like these are evaluated as something good or something bad can be described in terms of one's optimism or pessimism respectively. Throughout history, the pessimistic disposition has had effects on all major areas of thinking. Philosophical pessimism is the related idea that views the world in a strictly anti-optimistic fashion. This form of pessimism is not an emotional disposition as the term commonly connotes. Instead, it is a philosophy or worldview that directly challenges the notion of progress and what may be considered the faith-based claims of optimism. Philosophical pessimists are often existential nihilists believing that life has no intrinsic meaning or value. Their responses to this situation however are widely varied and are often life-affirming.

Chambers 20th Century DictionaryRate this definition:2.0 / 1 vote

1. Pessimism

   pes′i-mizm, n. the doctrine that on the whole the world is bad rather than good: a temper of mind that looks too much on the dark side of things: a depressing view of life.—v.i. Pess′imise.—n. Pess′imist, one who believes that everything is tending to the worst: one who looks too much on the dark side of things—opp. to Optimist.—adjs. Pessimis′tic, -al. [L. pessimus, worst.]

The Nuttall EncyclopediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Pessimism

   a name given now to a habit of feeling, now to a system of opinion; as the former it denotes a tendency to dwell on the dark or gloomy side of things, culminating in a sense of their vanity and nothingness, while in the latter it is applied to all systems of opinion which lay the finger on some black spot in the structure of the life of the world or of the universe, which so long as it remains is thought to render it unworthy of existence.

Matched Categories

1. • Despair
   • Disposition

How to pronounce Pessimism?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say Pessimism in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of Pessimism in Chaldean Numerology is: 5

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of Pessimism in Pythagorean Numerology is: 5

Examples of Pessimism in a Sentence

1. Mark Twain:

   Pessimism is only the name that men of weak nerve give to wisdom.

2. Dana Blanton:

   This comes against a backdrop of extreme volatility in stock markets and increasing pessimism about the economy, for the first time in over three years, more Americans think the economy is getting worse than better.

3. Felipe Andres Coronel:

   Son, remember when you fight to be free, to see things how they are, and not how you like em to be. Cause even when the world is falling on top of me, pessimism is an emotion, not a philosophy.

4. Thomas Hardy:

   Pessimism is, in brief, playing the sure game. You cannot lose at it; you may gain. It is the only view of life in which you can never be disappointed. Having reckoned what to do in the worst possible circumstances, when better arise, as they may, life becomes child's play.

5. Emil Cioran:

   Only one endowed with restless vitality is susceptible to pessimism. You become a pessimist --a demonic, elemental, bestial pessimist --only when life has been defeated many times in its fight against depression.

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References

1. ^ Princeton's WordNet
   http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=Pessimism
2. ^ Wiktionary
   https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Pessimism
3. ^ Wikipedia
   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pessimism
4. ^ Webster Dictionary
   https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Pessimism
5. ^ Wikidata
   https://www.wikidata.org/w/index.php?search=Pessimism
6. ^ Chambers 20th Century Dictionary
   https://www.gutenberg.org/files/37683/37683-h/37683-h.htm#:~:text=Pessimism
7. ^ The Nuttall Encyclopedia
   https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/12342/pg12342-images.html#Pessimism