pessimist
gb/pˈɛsəmɪst/ us/pˈɛsəmɪst/
B2
English
pesszimista
NOUN
B2
1
pesszimista
B2
Usage pattern:
a pessimist; [someone] is a pessimist
He’s a pessimist who always assumes the plan will fail.
Ő egy pesszimista, aki mindig azt feltételezi, hogy a terv kudarcot vall.
Don’t be such a pessimist—there’s a good chance it will work out.
Ne légy már ennyire pesszimista — jó esély van rá, hogy sikerül.
As a pessimist, she prepared for delays and brought a backup charger.
Learner examples
My brother is a pessimist.
A bátyám pesszimista.
Don’t be a pessimist.
Ne légy pesszimista.
Common mistake:
Do not confuse with "realist"; a pessimist expects negative outcomes, not just realistic ones.
Meaning
Person who expects the worst
Collocations
a pessimistic pessimist
|a chronic pessimist
|a lifelong pessimist
|a natural pessimist
|an outright pessimist
|a complete pessimist
|become a pessimist
|sound like a pessimist
|call [someone] a pessimist
|accuse [someone] of being a pessimist
Synonyms
doom-monger (Stronger and more critical; suggests spreading negative predictions.)
|
cynic (Often implies distrust of people’s motives, not just expecting bad outcomes.)
Antonyms
optimist (Expects good outcomes and focuses on positive possibilities.)
Themes
emotions
|personality
|communication
Definition
Someone who usually thinks things will go badly.
A person who tends to expect bad outcomes and focuses on negative aspects of situations.
NOUN
C1
2
pesszimista
B2
Usage pattern:
a pessimist about [something]
He’s a pessimist about human nature and doubts people will change.
Pesszimista az emberi természettel kapcsolatban, és kételkedik abban, hogy az emberek megváltoznak.
The writer was a pessimist who saw progress as an illusion.
Az író pesszimista volt, aki a haladást puszta illúziónak látta.
Even the pessimists admitted the economy had stabilized.
Learner examples
She is a pessimist about the future.
Pesszimista a jövővel kapcsolatban.
He is a pessimist about politics.
Pesszimista a politikát illetően.
Common mistake:
This sense is broader than everyday negativity; it refers to a general outlook on life or society.
Meaning
Person who holds pessimistic worldview
Collocations
a pessimist about the future
|a pessimist about politics
|a pessimist about human nature
|cultural pessimists
|economic pessimists
|political pessimists
|an inveterate pessimist
|a philosophical pessimist
Synonyms
fatalist (Emphasizes belief that outcomes are unavoidable, not necessarily that they are bad.)
|
nihilist (More extreme; suggests belief that life lacks meaning, not simply negative expectations.)
Antonyms
optimist (Believes life or the future is likely to improve.)
Themes
beliefs
|philosophy
|society
Definition
Someone who believes the future will not get better.
A person who believes that life or human affairs are generally bad, getting worse, or unlikely to improve.
Grammar
Dictionary form
pessimist
IPA
GB/pˈɛsəmɪst/
US/pˈɛsəmɪst/
Syllables & stress
pess - im - ist (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (pess)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: pessimist
- Plural: pessimists
Word family
Forms
pessimists
noun
Core family
pessimism
noun
pessimistic
adjective B2
Related words
pessimistically
adverb
Negative and opposite forms
Expressions
a confirmed pessimist
1/ə kənfˈɚmd pˈɛsəmɪst/
fixed phrase
Habitual, settled pessimist
Someone who is strongly and permanently pessimistic.
Examples
- As a confirmed pessimist, he always plans for the worst.
- She calls herself a confirmed pessimist, but she still tries.
- Only a confirmed pessimist could find a problem with this success.
a dyed-in-the-wool pessimist
1/ə dˈaɪd ˈɪn ðə wˈʊl pˈɛsəmɪst/
idiom
Pessimist by nature
Someone who is always a pessimist.
Examples
- Even as a dyed-in-the-wool pessimist, she admitted the results were encouraging.
- He’s a dyed-in-the-wool pessimist who never expects good news.
- You don’t change a dyed-in-the-wool pessimist overnight.
a glass-half-empty pessimist
1/ə ɡlˈæs hˈæf ˈɛmpti pˈɛsəmɪst/
fixed phrase
Person who sees negatives first
Someone who sees the bad side of things.
Examples
- He’s a glass-half-empty pessimist, even when things are going well.
- Stop being a glass-half-empty pessimist and look at what we’ve achieved.
- Her glass-half-empty pessimist attitude frustrated the team.
Learner examples
- He is a glass-half-empty pessimist.
the pessimist in me
1/ðə pˈɛsəmɪst ˈɪn mˈi/
fixed phrase
My negative side speaking
I feel worried and expect bad results.
Examples
- The pessimist in me thinks the deal will fall through.
- The pessimist in me says we should plan for delays.
- The pessimist in me worries we’re too late.
Learner examples
- The pessimist in me thinks it will rain.
- The pessimist in me says it won’t work.