English

Noun

miserabilist ‎(plural miserabilists)

1. One who is unhappy, or extols being miserable as a virtue; a philosopher of pessimism.
   • 1991, Anthony Powell, Under review: further writings on writers, 1946-1989, page 242

     Gissing is never more of a miserabilist than when trying to be light-hearted.

   • 2006, Iain Sinclair, London: city of disappearances, page 314

     An old, failed actor who lived on his own, he never had friends dropping by, because he was a bedridden inconsiderate miserabilist.

   • 2009 February 7, Lucy Mangan, “Lucy Mangan: This week”, in The Guardian:

     The former Smiths singer, professional miserabilist, vegetarian and gladioli-distributor has posed nude for the inner sleeve artwork for his new single, Heaven Knows I'm Naked Now.

Usage notes

Also appears as variant miserablist (without interconsonantal -i-), but this latter is less common; likewise miserabilism (with -i-) is more common than miserablism (without -i-).

Synonyms

• See also Wikisaurus:unhappy
• killjoy, spoilsport

Related terms

• miserablism
• miserabilism
• miserablist

Translations