pessimist
PEH-sih-mihst
Pessimist (noun) means someone who habitually expects the worst or focuses on the negative side of things. Example: “As a natural pessimist, he assumed the flight would be delayed.”
noun
1
Someone who habitually expects the worst or focuses on the negative side of things.
"I will not marry a pessimist, a born loser, a fellow who has no fight in him."
— , Letters Reveal Ordeals in France (1940)
"As a natural pessimist, he assumed the flight would be delayed."
How to use pessimist
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA person who tends to see the glass as half empty.
Easily confused with
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Word forms
- Plural
- pessimists
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As a natural _____, he assumed the flight would be delayed.
Etymology
From French pessimiste, from Latin pessimus ("worst").
Antonyms
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Rhymes for pessimist
See all rhymes for pessimist →Frequently asked questions
What does “pessimist” mean?
The word “pessimist” means someone who habitually expects the worst or focuses on the negative side of things. In plain terms, a person who tends to see the glass as half empty.
How do you pronounce “pessimist”?
“Pessimist” is pronounced PEH-sih-mihst (/ˈpɛsɪmɪst/ in IPA).
How do you use “pessimist” in a sentence?
Here is “pessimist” used in a sentence: “As a natural pessimist, he assumed the flight would be delayed.”
What part of speech is “pessimist”?
“Pessimist” is a noun.
Where does the word “pessimist” come from?
The word “pessimist” comes from Latin. From French pessimiste, from Latin pessimus ("worst").
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