as in pessimism
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Recent Examples of defeatism
By contrast, maybe such language engenders a sense of defeatism, a belief in the inevitability of collapse which is collectively paralyzing.
—
Ed Simon
september 24, Literary Hub, 24 Sep. 2025
This defeatism has been supported by a second, equally pernicious assumption: that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s commitment to subjugating Ukraine cannot be deterred.
—Michael Carpenter, Foreign Affairs, 1 July 2025
Too often the effect has been to make the GOP put lipstick on defeatism.
—Andreas Kluth, Mercury News, 19 June 2025
Shot entirely in France, the movie renders its ideas of romantic melancholy and Agathe’s default romantic defeatism in ways that reassure the audience every second.
—Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune, 22 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for defeatism
Ed Simon
september 24, Literary Hub, 24 Sep. 2025
This defeatism has been supported by a second, equally pernicious assumption: that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s commitment to subjugating Ukraine cannot be deterred.
—Michael Carpenter, Foreign Affairs, 1 July 2025
Too often the effect has been to make the GOP put lipstick on defeatism.
—Andreas Kluth, Mercury News, 19 June 2025
Shot entirely in France, the movie renders its ideas of romantic melancholy and Agathe’s default romantic defeatism in ways that reassure the audience every second.
—Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune, 22 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for defeatism
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defeatism
Noun
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The closest the Genesee came to pessimism was a Dylan T-shirt or two in the lobby with a skeleton wearing a top hat.—
Christopher Borrelli,
Chicago Tribune,
31 Mar. 2026
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Since then, oil markets have been on a roller coaster, rising up and down alongside pessimism and optimism for a quick end to the war.—
Stephan Bisaha,
NPR,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The panthéonisation took place at a fractious political moment, three days after the resignation of Sébastien Lecornu, France’s fourth Prime Minister in thirteen months.—
Lauren Collins,
New Yorker,
1 Apr. 2026
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In the months since, LeVota has fired McCann Beatty after issuing a public ultimatum for her resignation.—
Ilana Arougheti,
Kansas City Star,
31 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Defeatism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defeatism. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026.
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