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Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

naysayer en · NOUN

Pronunciation

  • /ˈneɪˌseɪ.ə(ɹ)/ (UK)
  • (US) audio
  • /ˈneɪˌseɪ.ɚ/ (US)

Etymology

From nay + say + -er, equivalent to naysay + -er. First use appears c. 1552.

Meanings

  1. One who consistently denies, criticizes, or doubts; a detractor.
    • He ignored the naysayers and succeeded with his idea.
    • As for the IRP, Secretary of State Grant Shapps continues to peddle snake oil, smoke and mirrors. His reaction to near-universal IRP condemnation from politicians, local and national media, and all but a few rail specialists was to dismiss the lot of us (in the condescending and patronising tone we have now come to expect) as "critics and naysayers". 2022 January 12, Nigel Harris, “Comment: Unhappy start to 2022”, in RAIL, number 948, page 3:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
naysayers Number=Plur lexicographic
nay-sayer alternative lexicographic

Antonyms

yea-sayer · yeasayer

Relateds

nay-saying · nay-say · naysaying

Synonyms

cynic · doubter · pessimist

Translations (18)

de Lästerer (consistent critic) · de Nein-Sager (consistent critic) · de Neinsagerin (consistent critic) · de Neinsager (consistent critic) · pdt Dreikopp (consistent critic) · es negativista (consistent critic) · cmn 反對者 /反对者 (consistent critic) · cmn 批評者 /批评者 (consistent critic) · de Abstreiter (consistent critic) · es opositor (consistent critic) · bg скепти́к (consistent critic) · es escéptico (consistent critic) · es detractor (consistent critic) · fi vastarannan kiiski (consistent critic) · de Kritiker (consistent critic) · ar عَارِض (consistent critic) · de Nein-Sagerin (consistent critic) · ar مُتَعَرِّض (consistent critic)