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English Vocabulary about Optimism and Pessimism

English Vocabulary about Optimism and Pessimism

English Vocabulary about Optimism and Pessimism

Buoyant (ad)

cheerful, optimistic, happy, (antonym: morose), resilient, flexible

We can make a real effort to be buoyant despite obstacles.

A buoyant mood can be felt while doing exercise.

If I had immigrated to a developed country, I could have been more buoyant in my life.

Cynical (adj)

pessimistic, negative (antonym: naive)
They were cynical about the team`s chance of winning the championship.

Some people are more cynical, some more sanguine, but if there isn’t a good balance between our optimistic and pessimistic attitudes, taking proper action in face of difficulties will come to a halt.

People who deal with crime and court are usually more cynical in an uneasy situation.

Failed in building up a good rapport with the opposite sex, men have a pretty cynical view of women.

Downbeat (adj)

pessimistic, gloomy

The company`s sales performance showed some downbeat results due to product price rises.

Life has so many downbeat and upbeat moments which are ephemeral.

Downbeat people are such harbingers of doom.

Expectant (adj)

hopeful, eager

Sara was expectant to pass the exam with flying colors because of her real effort.

He looks expectantly at his son’s victorious face.

Expectant people are more successful in the journey of life.

Incredulous (adj)

unwilling to admit or accept what is offered as true

He was incredulously denying his mother’s death.
She is so credulous that she believes every joke which we make.

The news has developed incredulous expression about economic situation.

Incredulous silence is a bit frightening because you are not sure about the response of the person whom you are talking with.

Optimistic (adj)

looking on the bright side

Do you think that making any endeavors to be optimistic has something to do with terror? I believe terror should be replaced with normal fear. This is because of the fact that courage does not denote lack of fear. Instead, courage means to take action in spite of the presence of fear.

Pessimistic (adj)

doubtful and negative, incredulous

Pessimistic people are so toxic.

Sanguine (adj)

optimistic, hopeful, positive

A sanguine attitude to life can lead us to success.

Being sanguine is a shortcut to a joyful life.

Gone are the days in which people were sanguine about worldwide peace.

Skeptical (adj)

cynical, doubtful, (antonym: convinced)

The test result`s led them to being skeptical about their chance of eliminating the disease.

The teacher was so skeptical of her proposal that she couldn’t see the genuine value in her ideas.

I am so skeptical that the meaning of “dubious” and “doubtful” are the same.

I am skeptical of the benefits of caring about taboos.

Upbeat (adj)

optimistic, cheerful, positive, buoyant, (antonym: downbeat)

Her upbeat attitude towards work was affecting his colleagues.

Hanging around with upbeat people can push you forward in your life.

About the Author

Dr. Mohammad Hossein Hariri Asl

Dr. Mohammad Hossein Hariri Asl is an English and Persian instructor, educator, researcher, inventor, published author, blogger, SEO expert, website developer, entrepreneur, and the creator of LELB Society. He's got a PhD in TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language).

Number of Posts: 4157

79 thoughts on “English Vocabulary about Optimism and Pessimism”

  1. I am incredulous that he is not capable of being a good man

    • Correction: I am incredulous that he is not capable of being a good man.

      • Hello and welcome aboard! Please keep on leaving comments to learn from each other.

    • Your sentence is grammatically correct, but it could be made clearer. Here’s a slight adjustment for improved clarity:
      “I find it hard to believe that he is not capable of being a good man.”

  2. Incredulous silence is a bit frightening cos you are not sure about the response of the person whom you are talking with.

    • You’re right, incredulous silence can indeed be unsettling because it leaves you uncertain about the other person’s reaction. It creates a sense of suspense and ambiguity, making it challenging to gauge their thoughts and feelings. Clear communication is key to understanding and resolving any situation effectively.

  3. Incredulous (adj): skeptical, doubtful
    News have developed incredulous expression about economic situation.

    • News is singular – The news has developed …

  4. Reply to “incredulous”

    • Meaning: Unwilling to admit or accept what is offered as true
      He was incredulously denying his mother’s death.
      She is so credulous that believes in every joke which we make.

      • She is so credulous that she believes every joke that we make.

  5. Reply to “upbeat”

    • Upbeat (adj): optimistic, cheerful, positive, buoyant, (antonym: downbeat)
      Her upbeat attitude towards work was effecting his colleagues.

      • … was affecting his colleagues
        To affect: to have an effect on
        To effect: to bring about or cause something – to make something happen

    • Hanging around with upbeat people can push you forward in your life.

      • Absolutely, surrounding yourself with positive and upbeat people can significantly boost your motivation and outlook on life. Their energy and optimism can inspire you to pursue your goals more passionately and help you maintain a constructive attitude even in challenging situations.

  6. Reply to “downbeat”

    • Downbeat (adj): pessimistic, gloomy
      The company`s sales performance showed some downbeat results due to product price rises.

      • It’s unfortunate that the rise in product prices has negatively impacted the company’s sales performance. It’s essential to carefully balance pricing strategies to maintain profitability while still attracting customers.

    • life has so many downbeat and upbeat moments which are ephemeral.

      • Life has so many downbeat and upbeat moments which are ephemeral.

        • I appreciate your self-correction.

      • Absolutely, life is filled with a mix of downbeat and upbeat moments, and each one is fleeting. This impermanence reminds us to cherish the good times and learn from the challenging ones.

    • Downbeat people are such harbingers of doom.

      • It’s true that being around consistently negative people can bring down your mood and outlook. Their pessimism and negativity can create an environment that feels heavy and discouraging. It’s important to balance interactions with such individuals by surrounding yourself with more positive influences who can uplift and motivate you.

  7. Reply to “expectant”

    • Expectant (adj): hopeful, eager
      Sara was expectant to pass with flying colours because of her real effort.

      • To pass what? An exam?

    • He looks expectantly at his son’s victorious face.

      • You should know that I had to edit this comment of yours.

    • expectant people are more successful in the journey of life.

      • expectant ➡ Expectant – This is the first word in your sentence.

  8. Reply to “pessimistic”

    • Pessimistic (adj): sb`s glass is half empty

      • Exactly, a pessimistic person tends to focus on the negative side of things, often seeing challenges and problems rather than opportunities and solutions. Their outlook is like seeing the glass as half empty, emphasizing what is lacking rather than what is present.

    • Pessimistic people are so toxic.

      • It’s true that constant negativity can be draining and create a toxic environment. Pessimistic individuals often focus on the worst-case scenarios, which can bring down the mood and energy of those around them.

  9. Reply to “optimistic”

    • Optimistic (adj): look on the bright side

      • Absolutely, an optimistic person always looks on the bright side of things. They focus on the positive aspects and believe in favorable outcomes, which can be very uplifting and encouraging for themselves and those around them.

    • Do you think that making any endeavors to be optimistic has something to do with terror?

      • I believe terror should be replaced with normal fear. This is because of the fact that courage does not denote lack of fear. Instead, courage means to take action in spite of the presence of fear.

  10. Reply to “skeptical”

    • Skeptical (adj): cynical, doubtful, (antonym: convinced)
      The test result`s led them to be skeptical about their chance of eliminating the disease.

      • … led them to being skeptical …

    • Dubious, a person too difficult to convince

      The teacher was so skeptical of her proposal that she couldn’t see the genuine value in her ideas.

      • Yes, “dubious” describes someone who is hard to convince because they are doubtful or skeptical. In this context, the teacher’s skepticism prevented her from appreciating the true merit of the student’s proposal, highlighting how doubt can sometimes cloud our judgment.

    • I am so skeptical that the meaning of “dubious” and “doubtful” are the same.

        • Thank you for performing peer-assessment and evaluation.

    • I am skeptical of the benefits of caring about taboos.

      • Thank you for making a sentences in the form of a comment about the word, “skeptical”.

  11. Reply to “buoyant” (happy and confident)

    • Buoyant (adj): 1. cheerful, optimistic, happy, (antonym: morose) 2. resilient, flexible
      We can make a real effort to be buoyant despite obstacle.

      • .. despite obstacle s .

        • Thank you for your feedback!

    • Buoyant mood can be felt while doing exercise.

    • If I had immigrated to developed countries, I cold have been more buoyant in my life.

      • To a developed country

  12. Reply to “sanguine”

    • Sanguine (adj): optimistic, hopeful, positive
      A sanguine attitude to life can lead us to success.

      • being sanguine is a shortcut to joyful life.

        • Feedback
          * The first word in each sentence should be written with a capital letter.
          * to a joyful life

    • Gone are the days in which people were sanguine about worldwide peace.

      • Indeed, the optimism for worldwide peace seems to have waned over time. However, even in challenging times, it’s important to strive for understanding, cooperation, and hope. Efforts toward peace, no matter how small, can still make a significant difference.

  13. Reply to “cynical”

    • Cynical (adj): pessimistic, negative (antonym: naive)
      They were cynical about the team`s chance of winning the championship.

      • Some people are more cynical, some more sanguine, but if there isn’t a good balance between our optimistic and pessimistic attitudes, taking proper action in face of difficulties will come to a halt.

        • Absolutely, balance is key. While it’s natural for people to have varying levels of optimism and pessimism, striking a harmonious balance allows us to approach challenges with a realistic yet hopeful mindset. This balance can help us remain motivated and effective when facing difficulties, ensuring that we take thoughtful and proactive actions rather than being paralyzed by indecision or negativity.

    • People who deals with crime and court, usually are more cynical in an uneasy situation.

      • People who deal with…..

        • Thanks for your precious feedback!

    • Failed in building up a good rapport with the opposite sex, men have a pretty cynical view of women.

      The usage of Adjective Participles!
      The original sentence is as below;
      Men, who are failed in building up a good rapport with the opposite sex, have a pretty cynical view of women.

      • Feedback
        * As far as I know, what you’re talking about is referred to as “participial adjective” or “verbal adjective”.
        * men who fail in building / fail to build

        • Thank you for your feedback. However, I learned this structure from Adam. He called it an Adjective Particle.
          You can find his lesson in the below link.

          • Adjective particle or adjective participle? In your first comment, you referred to it as “adjective participle”. Anyhow, even the term, adjective particle, is quite misleading.
            Actually, I believe EngVid tutorials are overrated these days.
            BTW, I had to remove the link you had provided. I personally do not allow for any link in the comments.
            P.S. We can work on the raised point in the next grammar post to uncover any mystery about verbal adjective or participial adjectives.

            • Sorry, I made a typo.
              “Adjective Participles”

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