defeatism
Expecting to lose
Defeatism is the attitude that failure is inevitable, so effort is pointless.
The word carries strong disapproval—to call someone a defeatist is to accuse them of giving up too easily or undermining morale: His constant defeatism is dragging down the whole team.
The term gained currency in wartime, when defeatist thinking was seen as dangerous to the cause.
Voluntary relinquishment of position
- fatalismDoctrine of inevitable outcomes
- hopelessnessState without hope
- negativityDisposition toward pessimism
- pessimismExpecting unfavorable outcomes
cynicism · apathy · passivity · nihilism · self-doubt · insecurity · timidity · demoralization
Doctrine of inevitable outcomes
- determinismDoctrine of causal necessity
- nihilismRejection of objective meaning
- SchopenhauerGerman pessimist philosopher
- weltschmerzMelancholy at existence itself
Complete yielding to demands
- submissionYielding to another's will
- yieldingBending under pressure
- acquiescenceUnresisting acceptance
- concessionYielding a point
white flag · giving in · throwing in the towel · abandonment · forfeiting · relinquishment · collapse · ceding
Total absence of hope
- dejectionState of lowness
- melancholySubdued, lasting sadness
- desolationState of complete emptiness
- miseryIntense prolonged distress
woe · sorrow · bleakness · forlornness · anguish · heartache · doldrums · glumness
resignation
Voluntary relinquishment of position
- fatalismDoctrine of inevitable outcomes
- hopelessnessState without hope
- negativityDisposition toward pessimism
pessimism · cynicism · apathy · passivity · nihilism · self-doubt · insecurity · timidity · demoralization · disheartenment
fatalism
Doctrine of inevitable outcomes
- determinismDoctrine of causal necessity
- nihilismRejection of objective meaning
- SchopenhauerGerman pessimist philosopher
capitulation
Complete yielding to demands
- submissionYielding to another's will
- yieldingBending under pressure
- acquiescenceUnresisting acceptance
concession · white flag · giving in · throwing in the towel · abandonment · forfeiting · relinquishment · collapse · ceding · laying down arms
despair
Total absence of hope
- dejectionState of lowness
- melancholySubdued, lasting sadness
- desolationState of complete emptiness
misery · woe · sorrow · bleakness · forlornness · anguish · heartache · doldrums · glumness · moroseness
- bad attitudesnegativity, cynicism, pessimism, hostility, contempt
- despairdespair, hopelessness, desolation, despondency, dejection
- ismscapitalism, socialism, communism, anarchism, racism
- negativitynegativity, pessimism, cynicism, criticism, complaint
- discouragementdiscouragement, dejection, disappointment, letdown, demoralization
- pessimismpessimism, nihilism, fatalism, hopelessness, despair
defeatismoptimism
Tendency to expect good
confidence · positive thinking · bullishness · expectancy · hope
defeatismfighting spirit
Determined will to persevere
determination · perseverance · resilience · tenacity · grit
defeatismhope
Desire for good outcomes
hopefulness · encouragement · cheerfulness · buoyancy · positivity