as in hopeless
emphasizing or expecting the worst
your defeatist attitude is depressing everyone else on the team!
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in realist
one who emphasizes bad aspects or conditions and expects the worst
we told her that if she was going to be such a defeatist, she should keep her thoughts to herself
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defeatist
Adjective
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Is there a way out of our divided country’s seemingly hopeless predicament?—
Jackie Strause,
The Hollywood Reporter,
25 Feb. 2025 -
People who find themselves in financial trouble sometimes consider taking drastic measures when their situation appears hopeless.—
Paulette Perhach,
New York Times,
23 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Trump's return was met with cautious optimism across much of the Arabian Peninsula, where his realist, transactional style of diplomacy has earned him respect.—
Newsweek,
Newsweek,
7 Mar. 2025
-
For over a century, every global crisis has sparked a debate in the United States between two classical schools of geopolitical thought, pitting idealists, ardent supporters of foreign intervention, against realists, who mistrust lofty crusades.—
Neil MacFarquhar,
New York Times,
26 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
It’s packed with tough love, cathartic activities, and positive affirmations that won’t leave cynical folks rolling their eyes.—
Kristin Canning,
SELF,
25 Feb. 2025
-
It’s been cool and cynical, surreal and silly, bold enough to make adolescents of all ages feel daring for staying up past 11:30 (or catching up on YouTube the next morning) and safe enough to keep advertisers and network executives happy.—
A.O. Scott,
New York Times,
12 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
And yes, there are plenty of options for V-Day cynics, including He's Just Not That Into You and a particularly bloody '80s slasher flick.—
Glamour,
Glamour,
7 Feb. 2025
-
All one needs is to read the headlines today, 45 years down the road, to see that sometimes cynics have a point.—
George Monastiriakos,
Newsweek,
30 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
The pessimistic analysis has not paid nearly enough attention to the weak underpinnings of Russian military power.—
Phillips Payson O’Brien,
The Atlantic,
7 Mar. 2025
-
More uncertainty correlates with slower industrial production growth and more pessimistic consumer outlooks on the future.—
Christian Weller,
Forbes,
1 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Studies show that optimists, compared to pessimists, have lower stress levels, move faster up the career ladder, have fewer health complaints and live longer.—
Bryan Robinson,
Forbes,
3 Mar. 2025
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Optimists are also less likely to experience chronic diseases, depression, and other mental illnesses compared to pessimists.—
Contributed Content,
Twin Cities,
7 Feb. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Defeatist.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defeatist. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
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