overoptimistic
Definition
- Adjective:
- Excessively hopeful: "overoptimistic" describes a tendency to expect a positive outcome that is unrealistic or unlikely, often ignoring potential risks or negative factors.
Usage Examples
- (The prediction was too hopeful and not based on realistic data.)
- (She believes she will win despite the extremely low probability.)
Advanced Usage
- "to be overoptimistic about something": to hold an excessively positive view of a situation.
- Economists were overoptimistic about the recovery, and the recession continued. (They expected a quick improvement that did not happen.)
Variants and Related Words
Overoptimism (noun): the state or quality of being overoptimistic.
- His overoptimism caused him to invest all his savings in a risky venture. (His excessive hopefulness was not justified.)
Overoptimistically (adverb): in an overoptimistic manner.
- She overoptimistically believed the project would finish in one week. (She held an unrealistic view of the timeline.)
Synonyms
- Unrealistically optimistic: holding hopes that are not based on facts.
- Pollyannaish: naively cheerful and optimistic, often ignoring problems.
- Rose-colored: seeing only the positive aspects, ignoring the negative.
Related Idioms
To have rose-colored glasses: to view everything in an overly positive way.
- He looks at the world through rose-colored glasses, always expecting the best. (He is overoptimistic about life.)
To count one's chickens before they hatch: to assume success before it is certain.
- She is already planning how to spend the prize money — she's counting her chickens before they hatch. (She is being overoptimistic about winning.)