Vocabulary Spotlight

Defeatist

Part of Speech: Noun, Adjective

Definition: A person who accepts or expects failure easily; displaying a pessimistic attitude toward success.

“His defeatist attitude discouraged the entire team.”

Pronunciation

[dih-fee-tist]

Synonyms, Antonyms & Related Words

Synonyms

Pessimist
Doomsayer
Cynic
Quitter
Naysayer

Antonyms

Optimist
Encourager
Believer
Motivator
Advocate

Related Words

Defeatism (noun)

Word Origin

“Defeatist” originated from “defeat,” rooted in the Latin “deficere,” meaning to fail. It emerged in the early 20th century to describe attitudes that readily accepted failure.

Word Family

Noun: Defeatism – A belief in the inevitability of defeat.

Adjective: Defeatist – Displaying a pessimistic or self-defeating attitude.

Mnemonics

Think of “defeatist” as “defeated” + “ist” — someone who feels or acts as though they’re already defeated.

Industry-specific Usage

Sports

In sports, a defeatist attitude can prevent athletes from pushing themselves to improve or succeed.

Business

In business, defeatist thinking hinders growth by encouraging a mindset that does not prioritize overcoming challenges.

Psychology

Psychologists may help individuals overcome defeatist tendencies that affect motivation and personal goals.

In Context

A defeatist mindset can be a self-fulfilling prophecy, leading individuals to avoid risks and thus miss potential opportunities for success.

Vocabulary Challenges

1. Which of the following best defines “defeatist”?

One who expects failure easily
One who is very optimistic
One who is always happy
One who is supportive

“One who expects failure easily” is correct, as defeatist describes a mindset inclined to anticipate defeat.

2. Fill in the blank: Her ________ attitude prevented her from applying for new job opportunities.

motivated
supportive
defeatist
enthusiastic

“Defeatist” is correct, as it explains why she avoided opportunities due to expecting failure.

3. Which of these is an example of a defeatist attitude?

“There’s no point in trying because I’ll fail.”
“I’m excited to give this a shot!”
“I’ll put in my best effort.”
“I’m sure I can succeed with hard work.”

“There’s no point in trying because I’ll fail” is correct, as it reflects a defeatist attitude.