defeatism

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

He threw out defeatism and acted when everyone else waffled.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 5, 2026

It may be tempting to slide into defeatism.

From Slate • Jan. 23, 2026

And he slammed cadres who for "too long been accustomed to defeatism, irresponsibility and passiveness".

From Barron's • Jan. 20, 2026

It was a comment seized upon by Russia as a sign of resignation and defeatism.

From BBC • Jan. 14, 2026

The discovery that we are, as one investigator phrased it, living in a “sea of carcinogens” is of course dismaying and may easily lead to reactions of despair and defeatism.

From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson