English Reference
Adjective

pessimistic

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate US /ˌpɛsəˈmɪstɪk/ UK /pˌɛsɪmˈɪstɪk/ pes·simistic Computing

adj.expecting the worst thing to happen in a situation. You use this to describe someone who focuses on the negative side of things.

adj.tending to see the worst aspect of things or believe that the worst will happen. Often used predicatively after linking verbs like 'feel' or 'seem'.


SIMPLE

He is very pessimistic about his chances of winning.

CONTEXTUAL

The analysts are pessimistic about the company's growth following the recent economic downturn.

COMPLEX

While some experts remain optimistic about the transition to renewable energy, others take a more pessimistic view, citing the immense logistical hurdles involved.

Usage

Often followed by the preposition 'about'.

Pitfall
he is pessimistic of the futurehe is pessimistic about the future

Pessimistic typically collocates with 'about' rather than 'of' when referring to a situation or outcome.

Many are pessimistic about achieving the American Dream and question the value of higher education.

The Conversation· 19 Aug 2026

For the purposes of this analysis, we will consider three cases: optimistic, neutral, and pessimistic.

Ars Technica· 15 Jul 2026

From pessimist + -ic.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated