1. (n.) The opinion or doctrine that everything in nature is ordered for or tends to the worst -- opposed to optimism.
2. (n.) A disposition to take the least hopeful view of things.
Thesaurus Entries
Schmerz, Slough of Despond, anxiety, apprehension, blank despondency, cliff-hanging, cynicism, death wish, defeatism, dejectedness, dejection, depression, despair, despondency, despondentness, discouragement, disheartenment, dismalness, dispiritedness, down trip, downcastness, downer, downheartedness, dread, drooping spirits, expectant waiting, gloominess, gloomy outlook, heartlessness, hopelessness, low spirits, lowness, lowness of spirit, malaise, malism, negativism, nihilism, oppression, retreatism, self-destructive urge, sinking heart, spiritlessness, suicidal despair, suspense, taedium vitae, uncertainty, uncheerfulness, waiting, weariness of life
