pessimist

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.

One I heard while working as a journalist in Moscow in the early 1980s: “A pessimist is a well-informed optimist.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 6, 2026

A pessimist, however, would look and see the need for careful risk management.

From Barron's • Oct. 23, 2025

“My advice is simple: Plan like a pessimist and travel like an optimist,” he said.

From MarketWatch • Oct. 8, 2025

"Even with a powerful government like the Chinese one, it is hard to arrest pessimist sentiments when the economy looks bleak, the job market is cruelly competitive, and birth rate hits rock bottom."

From BBC • Sep. 25, 2025

I can’t seem to be a pessimist long enough to overlook the possibility of things being overwhelmingly good.

From "Where Things Come Back" by John Corey Whaley