defeatist
/di'fi:tist/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun:
- A person who expects or accepts failure as inevitable, often without making efforts to improve the situation or find solutions. This attitude can involve a pessimistic outlook that hinders proactive behavior.
Adjective:
- Characterized by or reflecting an attitude of expecting or accepting failure. It describes a mindset or behavior that readily concedes defeat.
Usage
- The term is used to describe a person's character or a specific attitude. As a noun, it labels the individual. As an adjective, it describes the attitude itself.
- It often carries a negative connotation, implying a lack of resilience or constructive effort.
Examples
Noun:
- Don't be such a defeatist; we can still turn this project around if we try.
- The manager was criticized for being a defeatist who gave up at the first sign of difficulty.
Adjective:
- His defeatist attitude demoralized the entire team.
- We must reject defeatist thinking and focus on finding a solution.
Advanced Usage
- "defeatist mentality/outlook": A fixed mindset oriented towards expecting failure.
- The company's struggles were exacerbated by a defeatist mentality among middle management.
Variants and Related Words
- Defeatism (n): The acceptance of or resignation to defeat, as a principle or philosophy.
- The general warned that defeatism was the enemy's greatest weapon.
Synonyms
- Pessimist: A person who tends to see the worst aspect of things or believe that the worst will happen.
- Fatalist: A person who believes that all events are predetermined and therefore inevitable.
- Quitter (informal): A person who gives up easily.
Antonyms
- Optimist: A person who tends to be hopeful and confident about the future.
- Fighter: A person who perseveres or struggles against difficulties.
Idioms and Phrases
- A defeatist attitude: A common phrase used to describe the specific mindset.
- You'll never succeed with a defeatist attitude.
Noun
- someone who is resigned to defeat without offering positive suggestions