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.

At the same time, I sensed a low hum of defeatism across campus.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 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

“I think there’s a lot of negative polarization at play — an expression of defeatism or disenfranchisement at the fact that status quo politicians aren’t addressing young men’s problems.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 3, 2025

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