Panglossian
adjective
Pan·gloss·ian pan-ˈglä-sē-ən 
paŋ-,
-ˈglȯ-
: marked by the view that all is for the best in this best of possible worlds : excessively optimistic
Did you know?
Dr. Pangloss was the pedantic old tutor in Voltaire's satirical novel Candide. Pangloss was an incurable, albeit misguided, optimist who claimed that "all is for the best in this best of all possible worlds." So persistent was he in his optimism that he kept it even after witnessing and experiencing great cruelty and suffering. The name "Pangloss" comes from Greek pan, meaning "all," and glossa, meaning "tongue," suggesting glibness and talkativeness.
Word History
Etymology
Pangloss, optimistic tutor in Voltaire's Candide (1759)
First Known Use
1831, in the meaning defined above
Panglossian
adjective
as in optimistic
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- optimistic
- Pollyannish
- Pollyannaish
- rosy
- hopeful
- Pollyanna
- upbeat
- rose-colored
- golden
- propitious
- promising
- encouraging
- reassuring
- heartening
- utopian
- likely
- auspicious
- bright
- comforting
- fair
- positive
- idealist
- cheering
- favorable
- visionary
- romantic
- cheerful
- cheery
- chipper
- good
- sunny
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- pessimistic
- despairing
- defeatist
- hopeless
- cynical
- bearish
- fatalistic
- nihilistic
- downbeat
- desperate
- unlikely
- nihilist
- discouraging
- unpromising
- disheartening
- inauspicious
- round number
- round of applause
- round of beam
- round off
- round off or out
- round on
- round out
- round pompano
- Round Rock
- round rush
- round scad
- round scale
- round seizing
- round shot
- round splice
- round stave basket
- round steak
- round stingray
- round table
- round tables
- round the bend
- round the clock
- round the twist
- round the year
- round timber