Transcription
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
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- [dih-fee-tist]
- /dɪˈfi tɪst/
- /dɪˈfiː.tɪst/
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
-
- [dih-fee-tist]
- /dɪˈfi tɪst/
Definitions of defeatist word
- countable noun defeatist A defeatist is someone who thinks or talks in a way that suggests that they expect to be unsuccessful. 3
- countable noun defeatist Defeatist is also an adjective. 3
- noun defeatist a person who too readily accepts or expects defeat 3
- adjective defeatist of or characteristic of a defeatist 3
- noun defeatist a person who surrenders easily or is subject to defeatism. 1
- noun defeatist an advocate or follower of defeatism as a public policy. 1
Information block about the term
Origin of defeatist
First appearance:
before 1915 One of the 14% newest English words
1915-20; defeat + -ist, modeled on French défaitiste
Historical Comparancy
Parts of speech for Defeatist
noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
defeatist popularity
A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 77% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
This word is included in each student's vocabulary. Most likely there is at least one movie with this word in the title.
defeatist usage trend in Literature
This diagram is provided by Google Ngram ViewerSynonyms for defeatist
adj defeatist
- negative — expressing or containing negation or denial: a negative response to the question.
- cheerless — Cheerless places or weather are dull and depressing.
- dejected — If you are dejected, you feel miserable or unhappy, especially because you have just been disappointed by something.
- dispirited — discouraged; dejected; disheartened; gloomy.
- gloomy — dark or dim; deeply shaded: gloomy skies.
noun defeatist
- cynic — A cynic is someone who believes that people always act selfishly.
- misanthrope — a comedy (1666) by Molière.
- complainer — A complainer is someone who complains a lot about their problems or about things they do not like.
- sourpuss — a person having a grouchy disposition that is often accompanied by a scowling facial expression.
- killjoy — a person who spoils the joy or pleasure of others; spoilsport.
adjective defeatist
- pessimistic — pertaining to or characterized by pessimism or the tendency to expect only bad outcomes; gloomy; joyless; unhopeful: His pessimistic outlook kept him from applying for jobs for which he was perfectly qualified.
- fatalistic — the acceptance of all things and events as inevitable; submission to fate: Her fatalism helped her to face death with stoic calm.
- resigned — submissive or acquiescent.
- despondent — If you are despondent, you are very unhappy because you have been experiencing difficulties that you think you will not be able to overcome.
- despairing — marked by or resulting from despair; hopeless or desperate
Antonyms for defeatist
noun defeatist
- optimist — an optimistic person.
adjective defeatist
- optimistic — disposed to take a favorable view of events or conditions and to expect the most favorable outcome.
Top questions with defeatist
- what is a defeatist?
- what does defeatist mean?
See also
Matching words
- Words starting with d
- Words starting with de
- Words starting with def
- Words starting with defe
- Words starting with defea
- Words starting with defeat
- Words starting with defeati
- Words starting with defeatis
- Words starting with defeatist