Defeatist

A defeatist is a person who expects failure or negative outcomes in advance, often exhibiting pessimism and a lack of confidence in their ability or the ability of others to succeed. They tend to believe that any endeavor is doomed from the start, and this belief often prevents them from putting in the effort or taking risks necessary to achieve their goals. defeatist attitudes are characterized by negativity, resignation, and a tendency to anticipate and dwell on the worst-case scenarios, which can become a self-fulfilling prophecy. Their mindset often manifests as a lack of motivation, an unwillingness to compete, and a tendency to give up easily.

Defeatist meaning with examples

• Sarah's defeatist attitude, constantly predicting project failure, demoralized her team. She'd constantly say, 'It's too complicated, we'll never get this done,' stifling any optimism. Her lack of proactive suggestions meant they ultimately struggled to make progress, ironically proving her self-fulfilling prophecy.
• Despite the overwhelming evidence of improvement, the defeatist coach constantly emphasized the team's weaknesses. 'We're always the underdogs,' he would lament, creating an atmosphere of hopelessness that ultimately caused the players to underperform in key situations. His negativity was crippling.
• After suffering a job rejection, Mark adopted a defeatist mindset, declaring, 'I'm just not good enough; I'll never find a decent job.' He stopped applying and instead started believing his situation was impossible to overcome. This lack of effort reinforced his self-defeating attitude.
• The town's citizens became defeatist after several failed attempts to revitalize the local economy. They lost faith in their ability to make a difference, often saying, 'It's hopeless,' which led to a cycle of inertia and declining community participation. They failed to see an alternative.
• The defeatist general, believing the war was unwinnable, hampered his troop's efforts by spreading pessimism among his men. 'We will lose; there is nothing we can do.' This contributed to low morale, poor strategy, and a series of defeats that prolonged the conflict and caused unnecessary suffering.