naysayer

[ney-sey-er]

noun

1. a person who habitually expresses negative or pessimistic views.

   Despite a general feeling that things were going well, a few naysayers tried to cast gloom.

Word History and Origins

Origin of naysayer¹

First recorded in 1715–25; nay + say ¹ + -er ¹

Example Sentences

“Modernizing that law won’t just ease California’s affordability crisis and boost our economy — it will prove the naysayers wrong about our state. ... It’s time to build an affordable California.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Qubein says such naysayers are jealous and insult families who worked hard to send their kids here.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Sliwa’s campaign platform hasn’t exactly silenced the chorus of naysayers who doubt he can beat Mamdani by running on cats and crime.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“Some people said it couldn’t be done, but I am so glad to stand here today and say that we have proved the naysayers wrong,” Bass said.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Stewart later asked the show's seven correspondents if the "naysayers and critics" were right.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• cynic