: a person who is inclined to expect poor outcomes : someone who is given to pessimism
… such was the success of the first venture that many must now be optimistic where most were pessimists at the beginning of the year and for several years before. Francis Byrne
For pessimists, the heavens offer a host of doomsday scenarios—an asteroid crashing into Earth or deadly cosmic rays raining down on the planet. R. Cowen
Recent Examples on the WebIn truth, though, Scott-Morgan would have had good reason to be a pessimist. Susan Orlean, The New Yorker, 26 July 2022 Cowans, who is also a member of AfriCOBRA, said that unlike himself, Harris was not a pessimist. Bo Emerson, ajc, 20 July 2022 However, only the biggest pessimist couldn’t have imaged how bad the Reds would be. John Perrotto, Forbes, 17 May 2022 The subsequent loss—completing a sweep that even the worst Nets pessimist wouldn’t have predicted—felt almost merciful. Vinson Cunningham, The New Yorker, 26 Apr. 2022 Smith often describes herself as a recovering pessimist. Sophy Chaffee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Jan. 2022 Mina’s an indefatigable optimist disguised as a despairing pessimist. Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 22 Dec. 2021 The pessimist would suggest the Packers are playing with fire and that lack of dominance will catch up with them in the postseason. Rob Reischel, Forbes, 26 Dec. 2021 One need be neither a pessimist nor a progressive, only a realist, to see that, for all our flaws and faults, the spirit of a Little Liberty is real. Adam Gopni, The New Yorker, 3 July 2021 See More