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.
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
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Plant growth through stone floor
A vibrant green shoot pushes through a crack in a marble floor, near a discarded, tarnished compass.
The plant signifies an optimistic, persistent life force thriving in an environment defined by stillness and decay, illustrating an attitude of cheerfulness that remains despite difficult or barren surroundings.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration