defeatist

/dɪˈfiː.tɪst/ (bre, ipa) · /dɪˈfiː.t̬ɪst/ (ame, ipa) · /-fētə̇st -ētə̇-/ (ame, mw) · /dɪˈfiːtɪst/ (bre, ipa) · /dɪˈfiːtɪst/ (ame, ipa)

defeatist — adjective

  • defeatistpositive
  • more defeatistcomparative
  • most defeatistsuperlative

1. showing a belief that failure is certain, so you stop trying or see no point in

1.形容詞B2
釋義

showing a belief that failure is certain, so you stop trying or see no point in making an effort

例句

Calling the new plan a complete waste of time before it started seemed deeply defeatist.

predicative: be/seem + defeatist

Ines found her colleague's defeatist comments frustrating during the budget meeting.

attributive: defeatist + comment/remark/attitude

同義詞
  • pessimistic

    less strong — expects bad outcomes but may still try

  • fatalistic

    broader — believes the future is fixed by fate, not just about failure

  • resigned

    passive acceptance without necessarily expecting failure

反義詞
  • optimistic

    expects good results and keeps trying

  • hopeful

    believes success is possible despite challenges

文法句型

defeatist + noun

be/seem + defeatist

用法筆記

Attributive use (before a noun such as 'attitude', 'thinking', 'outlook') is more common than predicative use ('seem defeatist'). Stronger than 'pessimistic' because it implies giving up rather than just expecting the worst.

常見錯誤

❌He is defeatist about the weather.
✅He is pessimistic about the weather.
💡defeatist relates to human effort and outcomes, not natural events.
❌I felt defeatist when I lost my keys.
✅I felt helpless when I lost my keys.
💡defeatist implies a broader, ongoing belief about failure, not a momentary frustration.

defeatist — noun