excessive optimism

USAGE SUMMARY

"excessive optimism" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe an overly optimistic attitude towards a particular situation. For example, "Despite the overwhelming evidence that the plan would not succeed, Bob maintained an attitude of excessive optimism".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

51 human-written examples

Our excessive optimism is exposed.

The New York Times

Commentators tend to voice either excessive optimism or total scepticism, with precious little in between.

The Guardian - Tech

The excessive optimism that boosted share prices is only partly to blame.

The New York Times

Israel Radio spoke of "dramatic developments," but a senior Palestinian cautioned against excessive optimism.

The New York Times

There's little doubt they were guilty of excessive optimism — even of downright incompetence.

The New York Times

The Taliban's ability to infiltrate this hastily assembled army reveals the excessive optimism of this policy.

The New York Times

Investors are erratic, swayed by waves of excessive optimism followed by waves of excessive pessimism.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

4 human-written examples

Furthermore, the authors discuss the widespread and excessive technological optimism and show that no combination of technical mitigation solutions will lead to an ecologically sustainable society if economic growth continues.

Energy, Sustainability and Society

"Anybody who goes into this at this stage of the game with an excessive degree of optimism," he said, "is incredibly naïve".

The New York Times

In both cases, the origins of the crisis lay in excessive private-sector optimism, with huge inflows of foreign lending going mainly to the private sector.

The New York Times

And because so many fund investors try to do so anyway, the study suggests that these fund flows provide a new sentiment indicator for gauging excessive pessimism or optimism.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "excessive optimism", ensure the context clearly indicates why the optimism is considered excessive, such as contrasting it with realistic assessments or potential risks.

Common error

Avoid using "excessive optimism" without explaining what makes it excessive. Without context, readers may not understand the negative implications or the contrast with a more reasonable viewpoint.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "excessive optimism" functions as a noun phrase, where "excessive" modifies the noun "optimism". It describes a state or tendency of being overly optimistic. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is correct and usable in English. The phrase is commonly used to express concern or critique of an unrealistic or unfounded positive outlook.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Science

18%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Wiki

1%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "excessive optimism" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase, as confirmed by Ludwig AI, to describe an overly positive and often unrealistic outlook. It functions as a noun phrase, commonly used in news and media, science, and formal business contexts to express caution or criticism. While grammatically correct, it is important to provide context to explain why the optimism is considered excessive. Related phrases include "unwarranted optimism" and "unrealistic expectations". When employing this phrase, writers should strive for clarity by providing specific reasons for labeling the optimism as "excessive". The phrase appears most often in The New York Times, The Economist, and The Guardian, among other authoritative sources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

overly optimistic

Directly points to an excess of optimism.

undue optimism

Indicates that the level of optimism is inappropriate or disproportionate.

unwarranted optimism

Emphasizes the lack of justification for the optimistic outlook.

excessive hopefulness

Focuses on the intensity of hope, implying it's beyond what is reasonable.

unrealistic expectations

Highlights the impracticality of the anticipated outcomes.

exaggerated expectations

Focuses on the inflation or overstatement of anticipated results.

rose-tinted glasses

Suggests a naive or idealized perspective that ignores potential problems. This is an idiom.

Pollyanna attitude

Characterizes an excessively cheerful and optimistic approach, even in the face of adversity.

blind faith

Highlights unwavering belief without regard to evidence or reason.

fool's paradise

Implies a state of illusory happiness based on false hopes or beliefs. This is an idiom.

FAQs

How to use "excessive optimism" in a sentence?

You can use "excessive optimism" to describe a situation where someone's positive expectations are unrealistic or unwarranted. For example: "The company's projections were based on "excessive optimism", ignoring potential market downturns."

What can I say instead of "excessive optimism"?

You can use alternatives like "unwarranted optimism", "unrealistic expectations", or "undue optimism" depending on the context.

Is "excessive optimism" a negative trait?

Yes, "excessive optimism" is usually portrayed negatively, as it implies a lack of awareness or disregard for potential problems or risks. It suggests that someone's positive outlook is not grounded in reality.

What's the difference between "optimism" and "excessive optimism"?

"Optimism" is a general tendency to expect positive outcomes. "Excessive optimism" indicates that this positive outlook is exaggerated, unreasonable, or likely to lead to disappointment due to a failure to consider potential downsides.