Panglossian
adjective
Pan·gloss·ian pan-ˈglä-sē-ən 
paŋ-,
-ˈglȯ-
: marked by the view that all is for the best in this best of possible worlds : excessively optimistic
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Dr. Pangloss was the pedantic old tutor in Voltaire's satirical novel Candide. Pangloss was an incurable, albeit misguided, optimist who claimed that "all is for the best in this best of all possible worlds." So persistent was he in his optimism that he kept it even after witnessing and experiencing great cruelty and suffering. The name "Pangloss" comes from Greek pan, meaning "all," and glossa, meaning "tongue," suggesting glibness and talkativeness.
Word History
Etymology
Pangloss, optimistic tutor in Voltaire's Candide (1759)
First Known Use
1831, in the meaning defined above
Panglossian
adjective
as in optimistic
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- optimistic
- Pollyannish
- Pollyannaish
- rosy
- hopeful
- Pollyanna
- upbeat
- rose-colored
- golden
- propitious
- promising
- encouraging
- reassuring
- heartening
- utopian
- likely
- auspicious
- bright
- comforting
- fair
- positive
- idealist
- cheering
- favorable
- visionary
- romantic
- cheerful
- cheery
- chipper
- good
- sunny
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- pessimistic
- despairing
- defeatist
- hopeless
- cynical
- bearish
- fatalistic
- nihilistic
- downbeat
- desperate
- unlikely
- nihilist
- discouraging
- unpromising
- disheartening
- inauspicious