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

Speaking to BBC Scotland News, Sturgeon described herself as a natural pessimist but said that was not the case come polling day, 18 September 2014.

From BBC • Sep. 17, 2024

A moral pessimist, von Wright questioned whether the material and technological advances of modern society could really be considered “progress” at all.

From "Endgame" by Frank Brady