miserabilism

Definitions

A tendency to take a miserable or pessimistic view on life; a consistently miserable outlook, negativity.

uncountable

Examples

“Parlementary ideas invariably evinced that most thoroughgoing national miserabilism which had impressed poor Damiens [...].”

“A beautiful-looking slice of British miserabilism, “Fish⟳ Tank” traces what happens to a 15-year-old (Katie Jarvis) when her mother’s boyfriend moves into the family’s cramped flat, a story that can be summed up by the lyrics, sung by Nas, that portentously bring⟳ the accumulated bleak moments to a close⟳: “Life’s a bitch and then you die⟳.””

“Nobody will ever 'fix⟳' the internet, just as nobody will ever fix⟳ the world. But this has never justified giving in to miserabilism about life offline.”

“The term “performative miserabilism” has been coined to explain⟳ France’s confusing penchant towards self-cynicism.”

“Since he arrived there, he’s delivered a lot of words about the direness of the inheritance from the Tories and accompanied this with the warning that things are going to get⟳ worse before they get⟳ better. Can the Labour conference, which opens on Sunday in Liverpool, expect⟳ a further deluge of miserabilism or will he have⟳ some more optimistic things to say⟳ to his party and to the public?”

CEFR level