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naysayer

American  
[ney-sey-er] / ˈneɪˌseɪ ər /

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.

Etymology

Origin of naysayer

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

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

To her critics, Breed closed with a quote from Theodore Roosevelt prizing the person who strives in spite of setbacks rather than the naysayer who carps from the sidelines.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 7, 2024

RuPaul’s, on “self-expression and authenticity,” touches on the craft of drag but mostly focuses on concepts like conquering your inner naysayer and cultivating stillness.

From New York Times • Dec. 14, 2021

"I was one of the few people who was not a naysayer from the very beginning," he explained.

From Fox News • Dec. 10, 2021

I live in a solar-powered house, I have a PhD in electrical engineering, and I’m an amateur naturalist, so I’m not some science naysayer trying to sabotage efforts to reduce greenhouse gases.

From Washington Post • Mar. 3, 2021

Masterji Thakur scanned the room, a challenge crackling in the air, daring any naysayer to object.

From "The Marvellers" by Dhonielle Clayton

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.