Basic Details
Word: Pessimistic
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Expecting that things will turn out badly, and seeing the worst side of a situation.
Synonyms: gloomy, negative, despairing
Antonyms: optimistic, hopeful, positive
How to Spell Pessimistic
Syllables: pes - si - mis - tic
Tricky part: The double s comes at the start (pess), and after that there is only one s before tic. Every vowel after pess is an i.
Watch out for: pesimistic, pessimestic, pessamistic, pessimistick
Memory tip: Its opposite, optimistic, ends in the same imistic. Take off opt and put pess in its place.
Usage Examples
Example 1: Uncle Jai is always pessimistic about the weather and carries an umbrella even in May.
Example 2: The team felt pessimistic after losing the first three matches of the league.
Example 3: Try not to be pessimistic before the results are even announced.
Fun Fact
The word grew from Latin pessimus, meaning worst, just as optimistic grew from optimus, meaning best.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Connection
Choose the antonym of the word pessimistic as used in the sentence:
Grandpa was pessimistic about the monsoon and was sure the crops would fail again.
a) negative
b) gloomy
c) doubtful
d) hopeful
Show answer
d) hopeful. Gloomy, doubtful and negative lean the same dark way; hopeful looks forward to good things.
Word Cookie
Find the extra letter in the word:
pessimisstic
a) i
b) c
c) s
d) m
Show answer
c) s. Only the start has a double s; the second s near the end is one too many.
Mingle-Mangle
The sentence contains a jumbled word. Choose the word it hides:
Do not be so ciitsimsesp about your marks before the papers are even checked.
a) simplistic
b) optimistic
c) materialistic
d) pessimistic
Show answer
d) pessimistic. With three s's, three i's and no o or l, the letters can only make pessimistic.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. A pessimistic person looking at a glass of water filled to the middle would call it ____.
a) half full
b) well filled
c) almost full
d) half empty
Show answer
d) half empty
2. Which remark sounds pessimistic?
a) Our team looks strong today.
b) We are sure to lose this match.
c) We can win if we try hard.
d) Let us practise once more.
Show answer
b) We are sure to lose this match.
