Definition of PESSIMISM

pessimism

Meanings

Plural: pessimisms

Noun

  • the feeling that things will turn out badly
  • a general disposition to look on the dark side and to expect the worst in all things
  • A general belief that bad things will happen.
  • The doctrine that this world is the worst of all possible worlds.
  • The condition of being pessimal.

Origin / Etymology

From French pessimisme, from Latin pessimus (“worst”) + -ism, superlative of malus (“bad”).
As a doctrine, from German Pessimismus as used by the German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer in 1819.

Antonyms

optimism

Scrabble Score: 15

pessimism is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
pessimism is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
pessimism is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 18

pessimism is a valid Words With Friends word