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.
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of detractor
Put bluntly, Clark’s detractors are not serious people.
—
Bobby Burack Outkick, FOXNews.com, 11 May 2026
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
Bobby Burack Outkick, FOXNews.com, 11 May 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detractor
Noun
-
Despite those assurances, critics say the response is still falling short, warning that Jewish communities remain exposed and the situation is continuing to escalate.—
Ariella Noveck,
FOXNews.com,
10 May 2026
-
Even so, critics said the commission mostly focused on conservative Christian and right-leaning political grievances.—
Peter Smith,
Los Angeles Times,
10 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 13 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
