half-empty
Pessimist's glass description
Half-empty describes a container holding less than its capacity, with emphasis on what's missing rather than what remains.
The phrase is most familiar from the question of whether a glass is half-full or half-empty—a test of optimism versus pessimism.
To see things as half-empty is to focus on lack: She always sees the glass as half-empty.
Still present after removal
- depletedSeverely reduced or emptied
- drainedEmptied of resources
- levelHorizontal or uniform position
- measureUnit of quantity
portion · leftover · residual · partial · diminished · reduced · consumed · drunk
Transparent solid from sand
- outlookAttitude toward the future
- perspectiveAttitude or spatial rendering
- cynicDoubter of good intentions
- negativeOpposite of affirmative
gloomy · defeatist · bleak · downbeat · discouraged · jaded · skeptical · fatalist
Transparent solid from sand
- bottleContainer for liquids
- tankLarge storage vessel
- cupSmall drinking container
- vesselReceptacle for contents
jar · pitcher · carafe · reservoir · basin · bucket · barrel · flask
remaining
Still present after removal
measure · portion · leftover · residual · partial · diminished · reduced · consumed · drunk · poured
glass
Transparent solid from sand
- outlookAttitude toward the future
- perspectiveAttitude or spatial rendering
- cynicDoubter of good intentions
negative · gloomy · defeatist · bleak · downbeat · discouraged · jaded · skeptical · fatalist · downer
glass
Transparent solid from sand
vessel · jar · pitcher · carafe · reservoir · basin · bucket · barrel · flask · jug
perception
Mental interpretation of stimuli
framing · interpretation · viewpoint · subjective · relative · dualism · ambiguity · paradox · dichotomy · duality
- fullnessfull, filled, brimming, packed, overflowing
half-emptyfull
Maximum extent reached
brimming · overflowing · filled · brimful · topped off
half-emptyhalf-full
Containing equal portions
optimistic · hopeful · positive · glass-half-full · sanguine
half, empty, halves, halved, halving, halfway, halfhearted, emptied, empties