The term 'PESSIMIST'S WORD' is a crossword puzzle clue that CAN be solved by the answers CANT and NOT. CANT is a four letter word meaning 'to be unable to do something' while NOT is a three letter word meaning 'the opposite of yes'. Together, these two words form a phrase that is commonly used by pessimists, which is 'CAN't not'. This phrase expresses the idea that pessimists feel they have no choice but to accept a negative outcome.