pessimisticadj.
/ˌpɛsᵻˈmɪstɪk/, U.S. /ˌpɛsəˈmɪstɪk/ Relating to, of the nature of, or characterized by pessimism; disposed to take a negative or unhopeful view of circumstances.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > expectation > despair, hopelessness > pessimism > [adjective]
pessimist1848
pessimistic1854
miserabilistic1882
pessimistical1885
miserabilist1902
the mind > emotion > suffering > dejection > melancholy > [adjective] > pessimistic
unsanguine1728
pessimist1848
pessimistic1854
pessimistical1885
negative1895
gloom and doom1971
1854 Morning Chron. 1 Apr. 9/5 The Bourse is actually going stark staring mad; their optimistic views, cherished so long in anticipation of the maintenance of peace, have of late been metamorphosed into the most pessimistic alarms.
1880 G. Smith in Atlantic Monthly Feb. 202 Arthur Schopenhauer, the originator of the pessimistic philosophy as distinguished from mere pessimistic sentiment.
1919 Outing Mar. 294/3 Local prophecies concerning the trolley became increasingly pessimistic.
1985 R. Whelan Robert Capa xx. 159 Capa had applied for a Russian visa, but, after his previous experience, he was pessimistic about his chances of getting one.
2002 Hotdog Feb. 12/1 Dirty Harry cuffed the crime film and dragged it kicking and screaming down three flights of stairs into the grimy, pessimistic era of Seventies cinema.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2005; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
<
adj.1854