defeatist
Assumes loss always
A defeatist expects or accepts failure, often before real effort has been made.
The word carries criticism—defeatists are seen as giving up too easily or spreading discouragement: His defeatist attitude is dragging down the whole team.
As a noun, a defeatist is someone who habitually assumes the worst outcome: Don't be such a defeatist.
One expecting negative outcomes
- negativistHabitual opposer
- fatalistBeliever in predetermined outcomes
- cynicDoubter of good intentions
- quitterOne who surrenders
naysayer · doomsayer · capitulator · surrenderer · hopelessness · resignation · despair · giving up
One who weakens covertly
- discouragerOne who dampens motivation
- energy vampireOne who exhausts others emotionally
- demotivatorThing that reduces motivation
- complainerOne who voices dissatisfaction
defector · deserter · saboteur · traitor · collaborator · appeaser · Chamberlain · Munich
Belief causing its own realization
- catastrophizingImagining worst-case outcomes
- ruminationProlonged, repetitive thinking
- cognitive distortionBiased mental interpretation pattern
- imposter syndromeBelief you're secretly unqualified
demoralization · apathy · disempowerment · passivity · avoidance · withdrawal · depression · anxiety
Habitually hopeful person
- fighterOne who engages in combat
- perseveranceSustained resolve despite obstacles
- resilienceCapacity to recover quickly
- determinationFirmness of purpose
grit · tenacity · never say die · comeback · underdog · phoenix · rally · bounce back
pessimist
One expecting negative outcomes
- negativistHabitual opposer
- fatalistBeliever in predetermined outcomes
- cynicDoubter of good intentions
quitter · naysayer · doomsayer · capitulator · surrenderer · hopelessness · resignation · despair · giving up · throwing in the towel
underminer
One who weakens covertly
- discouragerOne who dampens motivation
- energy vampireOne who exhausts others emotionally
- demotivatorThing that reduces motivation
complainer · defector · deserter · saboteur · traitor · collaborator · appeaser · Chamberlain · Munich · capitulation
self-fulfilling prophecy
Belief causing its own realization
- catastrophizingImagining worst-case outcomes
- ruminationProlonged, repetitive thinking
- cognitive distortionBiased mental interpretation pattern
imposter syndrome · demoralization · apathy · disempowerment · passivity · avoidance · withdrawal · depression · anxiety · burnout
optimist
Habitually hopeful person
- fighterOne who engages in combat
- perseveranceSustained resolve despite obstacles
- resilienceCapacity to recover quickly
determination · grit · tenacity · never say die · comeback · underdog · phoenix · rally · bounce back · second wind
- criticscritic, critics, criticizer, criticizers, faultfinder
- mindsetsgrowth mindset, fixed mindset, mindset, abundance mindset, scarcity mindset
- social typesnormie, jock, hippie, goth, diva
- cowardscoward, chicken, wimp, milquetoast, poltroon
- layaboutsslacker, slackers, deadbeat, deadbeats, loafer
- contrarianscontrarian, dissenter, naysayer, skeptic, doubter
defeatistoptimist
Habitually hopeful person
optimistic · hopeful · positive · confident · upbeat
defeatistfighter
One who engages in combat
determined · indomitable · persevering · can-do · resolute