defeatist

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "defeatist" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone who has a tendency to expect failure or to believe that success is impossible. Example: "His defeatist attitude during the project discouraged the entire team from trying their best."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Fossil fuel interests increasingly supplement disinformation with insidious, defeatist, and self-serving misinformation: decades of fossil fuel burning as inevitable for human prosperity; renewable energy expansion as "difficult - if not impossible"; and climate regulation as "highly unlikely" to sway business-as-usual.

The Guardian - Opinion

It's not a great thought to start the day, but that's the defeatist message Britain woke up to a couple of weeks ago, when the BBC's Today Programme interviewed newly-sacked climate-sceptic environment secretary, Owen Paterson.

The Guardian

She accused me of being defeatist; I said that she had been defeated.

The Guardian

The White House and Downing Street should have known this; indeed, some wise experts told them at the time, along with the defeatist quiet-life diplomats, the soldiers who don't like getting their kit dirty and the usual crowd of well-meaning idealists and nostalgic Soviet-apologists.

The Guardian

"You're so defeatist.

The Guardian

A third idea —to foster negative interest rates could cause financial markets to seize up in an emergency.Many market participants may dismiss this as the defeatist talk of an over-cautious central banker whose term ends next April and who knows he will not be re-appointed if Mr Abe wins the election.

The Economist

If he faces any opponent in his campaign for the Republican nomination who failed to filibuster the appropriations bill in the Senate this week, expect him to denounce that opponent as a weakling and a defeatist who was willing to countenance the health-care enslavement of America in order to win approval as a "moderate" from the cocktail-drinking socialists of the Washington, DC establishment.

The Economist

If that seems defeatist, a senior MDC figure said the grassroots think even an unfair contest is winnable, so should be fought.Not everything is working out in the president's favour.

The Economist

Until its current governor, Toshihiko Fukui, took office last year, the Bank of Japan (BOJ) had looked defeatist in the face of deflation.

The Economist

Former chiefs of the Bank of Japan had adopted a defeatist stance towards Japan's deflationary morass.

The Economist

To some in the Abe administration, that may sound defeatist.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "defeatist", ensure the context clearly indicates a tendency to expect failure or believe that success is impossible. Avoid using it simply to describe someone who is cautious or realistic.

Common error

Avoid labeling someone as "defeatist" simply because they acknowledge potential challenges or risks. A realistic assessment is different from a "defeatist" attitude, which implies a lack of belief in the possibility of success.

Linguistic Context

The adjective "defeatist" primarily functions to describe a person, attitude, or strategy characterized by an expectation of failure and a lack of effort to succeed. This is evidenced by Ludwig, where it modifies nouns like "message", "attitude", and "talk".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

73%

Encyclopedias

13%

Formal & Business

2%

Less common in

Science

0%

Reference

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "defeatist" is a commonly used adjective that describes an attitude or behavior characterized by an expectation of failure. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is correct and usable in written English. It often appears in news and media contexts, as well as encyclopedias, and carries a neutral register. While synonymous with terms like "pessimistic" and "fatalistic", "defeatist" specifically emphasizes a lack of belief in the possibility of success. When using "defeatist", it's important to distinguish it from realism, as a realistic assessment of challenges differs from a "defeatist" attitude that lacks hope and ambition.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

defeatism

Refers to the attitude of accepting defeat as inevitable.

hopeless

Expresses a lack of hope or optimism.

pessimistic

Focuses on a general negative outlook rather than a specific expectation of failure.

negative

Indicates a tendency to focus on the unfavorable aspects of a situation.

fatalistic

Suggests a belief that all events are predetermined and inevitable, often implying resignation.

despairing

Suggests a loss of hope and a feeling of great sadness.

resigned

Implies acceptance of a negative situation without resistance.

quitting attitude

Describes the behaviour of someone who gives up easily.

cynical

Indicates a distrust of others' motives and a general negativity.

gloomy

Describes a feeling of sadness or despondency.

FAQs

How can I use "defeatist" in a sentence?

You can use "defeatist" to describe someone's attitude or behavior when they expect failure or believe success is impossible. For example: "His "defeatist" attitude discouraged the team."

What's a synonym for "defeatist"?

Synonyms for "defeatist" include "pessimistic", "fatalistic", and "resigned", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to describe a strategy as "defeatist"?

Yes, you can describe a strategy as "defeatist" if it seems to accept failure or lacks ambition. For example: "Adopting a "defeatist" strategy will only lead to failure."

What is the difference between "defeatist" and "pessimistic"?

"Pessimistic" generally describes a negative outlook, while "defeatist" specifically implies an expectation of failure and a lack of effort to overcome challenges. A "pessimistic" person might anticipate problems, but a "defeatist" person assumes failure is inevitable.