Some pretty pessimistic characters (5)
I believe the answer is:
types
'characters' is the definition.
(I know this)
'some pretty pessimistic' is the wordplay.
'some' indicates a hidden word (some parts of the word are used).
'TYPES' is hidden in the letters of 'pretty pessimistic'.
(Other definitions for types that I've seen before include "Sorts - varieties" , "Writes using a keyboard" , "Sorts; kinds" , "Categories having common characteristics" , "Characters" .)