Sanguine
adjective /ˈsæŋɡwɪn/ — Optimistic even when the odds aren't great.
Definition
Cheerfully optimistic, especially in difficult situations.
Beyond the definition
A more elegant alternative to 'optimistic.' It suggests not just hopefulness but a particular warmth and confidence in the face of uncertainty. Sanguine people are often the ones keeping the room calm.
Origin & history
From Latin sanguis — blood. Medieval physicians believed an excess of blood made people cheerful and optimistic.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
She remained remarkably sanguine about the company's prospects despite the difficult quarter.
His sanguine outlook was both infectious and occasionally exasperating.
Even the pessimists were sanguine after hearing the plan.
How to use it
This entry uses an adjective. Follow the examples for the nouns it describes and its position in the sentence.
Choose “Sanguine” when the meaning fits your context: Cheerfully optimistic, especially in difficult situations.
Synonyms
optimistic, positive, hopeful, confident, buoyant
Antonyms
pessimistic, gloomy, despondent
Related words
- equanimous
- resilient
- stoic
Sanguine vs optimistic
Sanguine implies a warm, temperamental confidence — a blood-warmth that goes beyond reasoning about odds. Optimistic is more neutral, describing an intellectual position about how things will turn out. You can be sanguine without having weighed the evidence; optimism at least gestures at assessment. Sanguine is a disposition; optimism is a conclusion.
Word in the Wild
Illustrative story: an imagined scene, not a documented event or interview.
The project was three weeks behind, the client was furious, and half the team had called in sick. The project lead arrived, poured two coffees, and said: "Alright. Let's figure out which of these problems actually matter."
She wasn't in denial. She knew exactly how bad it was. But she had a quality that some people mistake for optimism: she believed that most problems, once named clearly, revealed a way through.
By Friday the project was three days behind instead of three weeks. She ordered pizza for the team. Nobody mentioned the crisis.
Questions about this word
What does "Sanguine" mean?
Sanguine is adjective meaning: Optimistic even when the odds aren't great.. Cheerfully optimistic, especially in difficult situations.
Which words express “calm under pressure”?
Sanguine — Optimistic even when the odds aren't great.
Where does the word "Sanguine" come from?
From Latin sanguis — blood. Medieval physicians believed an excess of blood made people cheerful and optimistic.