Meaning & use

detractor

noun·Academic

A person who criticizes something or someone, often persistently and publicly.

See it in a sentence

Despite her detractors, the mayor pushed the recycling program through the city council.

The new policy has plenty of detractors who argue it will raise taxes unfairly.

A note on using this word

Detractor implies repeated or organized criticism, often from a rival or opponent, rather than a single complaint.

Words with a similar meaning

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Words with an opposite meaning

supporteradmirer

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