- the tendency to see, anticipate, or emphasize only bad or undesirable outcomes, results, conditions, problems, etc.: His pessimism about the future of our country depresses me.
- the doctrine that the existing world is the worst of all possible worlds, or that all things naturally tend to evil.
- the belief that the evil and pain in the world are not compensated for by goodness and happiness.
- the tendency to expect the worst and see the worst in all things
- the doctrine of the ultimate triumph of evil over good
- the doctrine that this world is corrupt and that man's sojourn in it is a preparation for some other existence
