doomsayer

IPA/ˈduːmseɪə(r)/
KK[dˌumsˈeɚ]IPA/ˈduːmseɪər/

doomsayer — noun

  • doomsayersingular
  • doomsayersplural

1. a person who regularly warns that a serious crisis or disaster is about to occur

1.nounC1
Definition

a person who regularly warns that a serious crisis or disaster is about to occur, often without strong evidence that it will

Example

The doomsayer on the radio warned that the economy would enter a deep recession.

doomsayer + warned + that-clause

Aiko called her colleague a doomsayer for predicting the project would fail.

call + someone + a doomsayer

Common collocations
  • economic doomsayer
  • environmental doomsayer
  • ignore the doomsayers
  • dismiss the doomsayers
  • doomsayers warn that
  • doomsayers predict
Synonyms
  • alarmist

    focuses on causing unnecessary worry rather than simply predicting disaster; more negative in tone

  • pessimist

    broader term — a pessimist expects bad outcomes generally, not necessarily disaster or crisis

  • Cassandra

    mythological reference; a Cassandra makes true predictions that no one believes, whereas a doomsayer's predictions may not be accurate

  • prophet of doom

    more literary or dramatic than 'doomsayer', with biblical connotations

Antonyms
  • optimist

    someone who expects positive outcomes rather than disasters

Grammar Patterns

doomsayer + verb (warns/predicts/claims)

call/label/dismiss someone + a doomsayer

Usage Note

Frequently used in the plural (doomsayers) to describe people whose pessimistic warnings are seen as exaggerated. Often follows verbs such as 'ignore', 'dismiss', 'call', or 'label'.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

While all four words describe people who expect or warn about negative outcomes, 'doomsayer' specifically suggests predictions of large-scale disaster or crisis ('doom'), not just everyday bad luck. An 'alarmist' exaggerates danger and causes panic, which is a slightly different focus — the doomsayer may be sincere rather than trying to scare people. A 'pessimist' expects things to go wrong in general, without necessarily predicting catastrophe. 'Cassandra' (from Greek myth) refers to someone whose true warnings are disbelieved, whereas a doomsayer may simply be wrong. 'Prophet of doom' is more dramatic and literary, often used in journalism. For example: 'The doomsayer on TV predicted the end of the stock market,' but 'A pessimist might say the picnic will be rained out.'

alarmist ↗pessimistCassandra ↗prophet of doom ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Etymology

Old EnglishEnglish

Formed by combining the noun 'doom' (from Old English dōm, meaning 'judgment, fate, or final destiny', later associated with Doomsday or the end of the world) with 'sayer' (from Old English secgan, meaning 'to speak or utter'). The compound 'doomsayer' literally means 'one who speaks of doom' and has been used since at least the 1800s to describe people who habitually predict calamity.