Word meaning

sanguine

adjective · SANG-gwin

What does sanguine mean?

Sanguine means optimistic, especially in a difficult situation.

Sanguine in a sentence

“Despite the rain, the organizers were sanguine about the turnout.”

Synonyms for sanguine

  • optimistic
  • hopeful
  • upbeat

Where does sanguine come from?

From Latin sanguis, "blood"; medieval medicine linked a blood-dominant temperament with cheerfulness.

How to remember sanguine

  • Say it out loud a few times: SANG-gwin.
  • Write one sentence of your own using sanguine, about something that happened to you today.
  • Quiz yourself tomorrow, in three days, and next week. Spaced reviews are what make new words stick.

More words worth knowing

  • tenacity — the quality of being very determined; persistence.
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  • unwieldy — difficult to carry or move because of its size, shape, or weight; also, too complex to manage.
  • brusque — abrupt or offhand in speech or manner.
  • kudos — praise and honor received for an achievement.
  • reprieve — a temporary relief from something unpleasant.

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