Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Expecting or characterized by falling prices: Used primarily in finance and economics to describe a market sentiment or outlook where prices, especially of stocks or securities, are expected to decline.
   • Pessimistic or negative in outlook: In a broader, more figurative sense, it can describe a generally gloomy, negative, or skeptical attitude toward a situation or the future.

Usage Examples

• Financial Context:
  • Investors are feeling bearish about the tech sector, predicting a significant drop in stock prices.
  • The analyst's bearish report on the company caused its shares to fall sharply.
• General/Figurative Context:
  • His bearish outlook on the project made it difficult to motivate the team.
  • The CEO's bearish comments about the economy worried the employees.

Advanced Usage

• "to turn bearish on something": To change one's opinion to become pessimistic about something, especially an investment.
  • Many fund managers have turned bearish on government bonds.
• "a bearish market/sentiment": A market environment dominated by pessimism and selling pressure.
  • The bearish sentiment has led to three consecutive weeks of losses.

Variants and Related Words

• Bear (n): An investor who expects prices to fall and may sell assets hoping to buy them back later at a lower price.
  • The bears have dominated trading this month.
• Bearishly (adv): In a manner that shows expectation of falling prices or pessimism.
  • He spoke bearishly about the company's prospects.
• Bearishness (n): The state or quality of being bearish.
  • The prevailing bearishness in the market is palpable.

Synonyms

• Pessimistic: Tending to see the worst aspect of things or believe the worst will happen.
• Downbeat: Gloomy or pessimistic.
• Negative: Consisting in or characterized by the absence rather than the presence of distinguishing features (like optimism or rising prices).

Antonyms

• Bullish: Characterized by or associated with rising share prices; optimistic or confident.
  • The bullish investor bought more shares, expecting a rally.

Adjective

1. expecting prices to fall