defeatism
noun
de·feat·ism di-ˈfē-ˌti-zəm 
dē-
: an attitude of accepting, expecting, or being resigned to defeat
defeatist
di-ˈfē-tist
noun or adjective dē-
Example Sentences
We must not give in to defeatism. We must be optimistic.
Recent Examples on the Web By contrast, any appearance of defeatism could accelerate outside calls for Zelensky to agree to territorial concessions to Moscow and perhaps end the fighting before winter sets in. 
Laura King, Los Angeles Times, 24 July 2022 Distress and defeatism from the narrative that absolutely no progress has been made around climate change are rampant. Quora, Forbes, 16 June 2022 Both the defiance and the defeatism are integral to Crane. Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2021 The lack of real change in our nation’s child and adolescent mental health infrastructure has fostered a pernicious and pervasive defeatism among patients and clinicians alike. Steven C. Schlozman, STAT, 24 May 2022 But there are differences between compromise and hypocrisy; between restraint and cowardice; between realism and defeatism. Wal Van Lierop, Forbes, 25 Apr. 2022 For too long, extremists passing as mainstream have used cocktails of lies and fear laced with bigotry to lull Americans into a normalized and dangerous defeatism. Doris Bittar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Mar. 2022 Election officials and experts share Romney’s view, concerned about any rhetoric that could contribute to a growing defeatism about democracy, especially if the issue itself becomes just another partisan fault line. Eli Stokols, Los Angeles Times, 20 Jan. 2022 What played a bigger role in the tragedy in Afghanistan, U.S. enabling of corruption or media defeatism? Brigid Kennedy, The Week, 26 Aug. 2021 See More
Laura King, Los Angeles Times, 24 July 2022 Distress and defeatism from the narrative that absolutely no progress has been made around climate change are rampant. Quora, Forbes, 16 June 2022 Both the defiance and the defeatism are integral to Crane. Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2021 The lack of real change in our nation’s child and adolescent mental health infrastructure has fostered a pernicious and pervasive defeatism among patients and clinicians alike. Steven C. Schlozman, STAT, 24 May 2022 But there are differences between compromise and hypocrisy; between restraint and cowardice; between realism and defeatism. Wal Van Lierop, Forbes, 25 Apr. 2022 For too long, extremists passing as mainstream have used cocktails of lies and fear laced with bigotry to lull Americans into a normalized and dangerous defeatism. Doris Bittar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Mar. 2022 Election officials and experts share Romney’s view, concerned about any rhetoric that could contribute to a growing defeatism about democracy, especially if the issue itself becomes just another partisan fault line. Eli Stokols, Los Angeles Times, 20 Jan. 2022 What played a bigger role in the tragedy in Afghanistan, U.S. enabling of corruption or media defeatism? Brigid Kennedy, The Week, 26 Aug. 2021 See More Word History
Etymology
defeat entry 2 + -ism
First Known Use
1917, in the meaning defined above
defeatism
noun
as in pessimism
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- pessimism
- resignation
- dejection
- melancholy
- discouragement
- gloom
- blues
- despair
- demoralization
- depression
- dumps
- disheartenment
- despondency
- mopes
- dismay
- dispiritedness
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- encouragement
- optimism
- sanguinity
- tomalley
- tomalleys
- toman
- tomans
- tomas
- tomatidine
- tomatillo
- tomatilloes
- tomatillos
- tomato
- tomato black rot
- tomato blight
- tomato canker
- tomato eggplant
- tomato fruitworm
- tomato gall
- tomato hornworm
- tomato ketchup
- tomato mite
- tomato pinworm
- tomato psyllid
- tomato russet mite
- tomato sphinx
- tomato streak
- tomato wilt