as in critic
a person who criticizes something or someone
Despite his popularity, his many detractors still think his work is overrated. Even her detractors had to admit that she had made the company successful.
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Recent Examples of detractor
An Avalanche detractor can say Sunday is not the recipe for playoff success.
—
Peter Baugh, New York Times, 4 May 2026
But the social media posts also included many detractors, with some devolving into Islamophobic and xenophobic rhetoric.
—Angie Leventis Lourgos, Chicago Tribune, 3 May 2026
Like many defense-first, offense-light third pair D-men before him, Andrew Peeke had his detractors.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 2 May 2026
Its progressive detractors believed no real change was possible until cultural and political institutions were transformed.
—Literary Hub, 29 Apr. 2026
Despite his detractors, Kempthorne remained inquisitive and open to conversation, and also prone to an independent streak, Rick Johnson, former longtime executive director of the Idaho Conservation League, told the Idaho Statesman.
—Idaho Statesman, 25 Apr. 2026
Still, Dhillon has her detractors — particularly those who fall on the other side of the aisle, politically speaking.
—Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Oc Register, 22 Apr. 2026
However, the bill has its detractors.
—Cara Lynn Shultz, PEOPLE, 22 Apr. 2026
While the plan isn’t without its detractors, the NYEDC created the Midtown Made brand to protect local designers, manufacturers and creative entrepreneurs as the rezoning takes shape.
—Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 20 Apr. 2026
Peter Baugh, New York Times, 4 May 2026
But the social media posts also included many detractors, with some devolving into Islamophobic and xenophobic rhetoric.
—Angie Leventis Lourgos, Chicago Tribune, 3 May 2026
Like many defense-first, offense-light third pair D-men before him, Andrew Peeke had his detractors.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 2 May 2026
Its progressive detractors believed no real change was possible until cultural and political institutions were transformed.
—Literary Hub, 29 Apr. 2026
Despite his detractors, Kempthorne remained inquisitive and open to conversation, and also prone to an independent streak, Rick Johnson, former longtime executive director of the Idaho Conservation League, told the Idaho Statesman.
—Idaho Statesman, 25 Apr. 2026
Still, Dhillon has her detractors — particularly those who fall on the other side of the aisle, politically speaking.
—Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Oc Register, 22 Apr. 2026
However, the bill has its detractors.
—Cara Lynn Shultz, PEOPLE, 22 Apr. 2026
While the plan isn’t without its detractors, the NYEDC created the Midtown Made brand to protect local designers, manufacturers and creative entrepreneurs as the rezoning takes shape.
—Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 20 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detractor
Noun
-
Trump’s obsession with gold has led his critics to compare him to the Bond villain Goldfinger, a bullion dealer who hatches a plan to irradiate the gold in Fort Knox in order to increase the value of his own supply.—
Jennifer Wilson,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
-
City leaders raised the property tax rate for two consecutive years, most recently by about 3 cents to nearly 63 cents per $100 valuation, a move critics said placed a greater burden on homeowners.—
Sergio Candido,
CBS News,
3 May 2026
Noun
-
In turn, the criticizer is made out to be overreacting.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
7 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Detractor.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detractor. Accessed 7 May. 2026.
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