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Apprehensive vs Pessimistic - What's the difference?

apprehensive | pessimistic |

As adjectives the difference between apprehensive and pessimistic

is that apprehensive is anticipating something with anxiety or fear while pessimistic is marked by pessimism and little hopefulness; expecting the worst.

apprehensive

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Anticipating something with anxiety or fear.
  • * 1719 ,
    • this convinced me that there was no going on shore for us in the night on that coast, and how to venture on shore in the day was another question too; for to have fallen into the hands of any of the savages had been as bad as to have fallen into the hands of the lions and tigers; at least we were equally apprehensive of the danger of it.
  • Perceptive; quick to learn; intelligent; capable of grasping with the mind or intellect.
  • * 1670 ,
    • More fond of Miracles, than apprehensive of Truth.

    Derived terms

    * apprehensively

    pessimistic

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Marked by pessimism and little hopefulness; expecting the worst.
    • a pessimistic view of the future
  • Pertaining to the worst-case scenario.
    • a pessimistic estimate

    Antonyms

    * optimistic

    Related terms

    * pessimal * pessimism * pessimist