Definition

1. 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.

2. 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

1. someone who is resigned to defeat without offering positive suggestions