Miserabilist

Origin

Variant of miserable + -ist, with interconsonant -i- added due to difficulty pronuncing a four-consonant cluster (-blst).

Pronunciation===

• IPA: /ˈmɪzəɹəbÉ™lɪst/

Full definition of miserabilist

Noun

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 242Gissing is never more of a miserabilist than when trying to be light-hearted.
• 2006, Iain Sinclair, London: city of disappearances, page 314An 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, 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

• killjoy, spoilsport

Related terms

• miserablism
• miserabilism
• miserablist