pessimistic
gb/pˌɛsəmˈɪstɪk/ us/pˌɛsəmˈɪstɪk/
B2
English
pesszimista, borúlátó, pesszimisztikus
B2
1
pesszimista
B2
borúlátó
B2
Usage pattern:
[someone] is pessimistic (about [something])
I’m pessimistic about the talks—both sides seem unwilling to compromise.
Pesszimista vagyok a tárgyalásokkal kapcsolatban — úgy tűnik, egyik fél sem hajlandó kompromisszumot kötni.
Analysts are pessimistic that inflation will fall quickly.
Az elemzők pesszimisták azzal kapcsolatban, hogy az infláció gyorsan csökkenni fog.
Don’t be so pessimistic; we still have time to fix it.
Learner examples
She is pessimistic about the exam.
Pesszimista a vizsgával kapcsolatban.
He feels pessimistic about the future.
Pesszimista a jövővel kapcsolatban.
Common mistake:
Learners often use the wrong preposition after it (usually pessimistic about, not pessimistic of).
Meaning
expecting a bad outcome
Collocations
pessimistic about the future
|pessimistic about our chances
|pessimistic prediction
|pessimistic forecast
|pessimistic estimate
|pessimistic assessment
|pessimistic outlook
|pessimistic view
|pessimistic scenario
|pessimistic expectations
Synonyms
negative (More general; not always about future outcomes.)
|
downbeat (Often about mood or tone; slightly informal.)
|
gloomy (Stronger and more emotional; can describe atmosphere or feelings.)
Antonyms
optimistic (Expecting a good outcome.)
|
hopeful (Focusing on reasons something may work out.)
Themes
emotions
|attitudes
|daily_life
Definition
thinking that something will not go well
Expecting that things will go badly or that a situation is unlikely to succeed.
B2
2
pesszimista
B2
borúlátó
B2
Usage pattern:
a pessimistic [attitude/tone/view]
His pessimistic tone made the team feel like the project was already failing.
Pesszimista hangneme azt az érzést keltette a csapatban, mintha a projekt máris kudarcot vallott volna.
She gave a pessimistic assessment of the plan’s risks and costs.
Pesszimista értékelést adott a terv kockázatairól és költségeiről.
I don’t mind criticism, but the constant pessimistic comments are exhausting.
Learner examples
He has a pessimistic attitude.
Pesszimista a hozzáállása.
Her pessimistic tone worried me.
Aggasztott a pesszimista hangneme.
Common mistake:
Pessimistic does not mean 'sad' or 'depressed' (though it can sound that way in context).
Meaning
focusing on the negative
Collocations
pessimistic attitude
|pessimistic tone
|pessimistic reaction
|pessimistic comment
|pessimistic perspective
|pessimistic mindset
|pessimistic take
|pessimistic account
|pessimistic interpretation
|a pessimistic way of thinking
Synonyms
cynical (Suggests distrust of people’s motives, not just negative expectations.)
|
doom-and-gloom (Informal; emphasizes an overly negative style.)
Antonyms
positive (Emphasizing good aspects or possibilities.)
|
upbeat (Cheerful in tone; often about mood.)
Themes
emotions
|communication
|personality
Definition
often seeing the bad side of things
Tending to notice or emphasize problems and negative aspects more than positive ones.
C1
FORMAL
3
pesszimista
B2
Usage pattern:
a pessimistic [philosophy/theory/view of human nature]
The book offers a pessimistic view of human nature and political power.
A könyv pesszimista képet fest az emberi természetről és a politikai hatalomról.
Some critics argue that the film’s message is deeply pessimistic.
Egyes kritikusok szerint a film üzenete mélyen pesszimisztikus.
His pessimistic philosophy rejects the idea that society naturally gets better over time.
Learner examples
The story has a pessimistic message.
A történet üzenete pesszimisztikus.
Common mistake:
In this sense, pessimistic is about a general worldview, not just one situation.
Meaning
relating to pessimism as a belief
Collocations
pessimistic philosophy
|pessimistic worldview
|pessimistic theory
|pessimistic view of human nature
|a pessimistic account of history
|pessimistic conclusion
Synonyms
bleak (Emphasizes harshness and lack of hope; broader than philosophical usage.)
Antonyms
idealistic (Believing in the possibility of improvement or perfection.)
|
optimistic (Believing good outcomes or progress are likely.)
Themes
philosophy
|beliefs
|education
Definition
connected to the belief that things are generally bad
Related to the belief that life is mostly bad, suffering is unavoidable, or improvement is unlikely.
Grammar
Dictionary form
pessimistic
IPA
GB/pˌɛsəmˈɪstɪk/
US/pˌɛsəmˈɪstɪk/
Syllables & stress
pess - im - ist - ic (4 syllables)
Stress on 3rd syllable (ist)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: pessimistic
Word family
Core family
Negative and opposite forms
Expressions
a pessimistic outlook
1/ə pˌɛsəmˈɪstɪk ˈaʊtlˌʊk/
fixed phrase
general expectation of bad results
a general habit of expecting bad things
Examples
- After the layoffs, many employees developed a pessimistic outlook.
- His pessimistic outlook makes it hard for him to take risks.
- The report paints a pessimistic outlook for the housing market.
Learner examples
- He has a pessimistic outlook.
a pessimistic view (of [something])
1/ə pˌɛsəmˈɪstɪk vjˈu əv sˈʌmθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
negative opinion about [something]
a negative way of thinking about something
Examples
- She takes a pessimistic view of the company’s long-term prospects.
- That’s a pessimistic view of the situation—there are signs of progress too.
- He offered a pessimistic view of how soon peace could be achieved.
Learner examples
- My father has a pessimistic view of politics.
deeply pessimistic
1/dˈipli pˌɛsəmˈɪstɪk/
fixed phrase
very strongly expecting failure
very pessimistic
Examples
- She’s deeply pessimistic about the chances of a quick solution.
- Voters are deeply pessimistic about the direction of the country.
- He became deeply pessimistic after years of failed reforms.
Learner examples
- They are deeply pessimistic about the plan.
pessimistic about [something]
1/pˌɛsəmˈɪstɪk əbˈaʊt sˈʌmθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
expecting [something] to go badly
thinking something will not go well
Examples
- I’m pessimistic about our chances of winning.
- They’re pessimistic about how quickly the economy will recover.
- She sounded pessimistic about the project from the start.
Learner examples
- I am pessimistic about my interview.
pessimistic forecast
1/pˌɛsəmˈɪstɪk fˈɔɹkˌæst/
fixed phrase
prediction of bad results
a prediction that bad things will happen
Examples
- The company issued a pessimistic forecast for the next quarter.
- Several banks released pessimistic forecasts for growth this year.
- Despite the pessimistic forecast, the market rose on the news.
Learner examples
- The report gave a pessimistic forecast.