naysayer

noun

nay·​say·​er ˈnā-ˌsā-ər 

-ˌser

: one who denies, refuses, opposes, or is skeptical or cynical about something

There are always naysayers who say it can't be done.

nay-saying

ˈnā-ˌsā-iŋ 

noun

Synonyms

• cynic
• misanthrope
• pessimist

Examples of naysayer in a Sentence

There are always naysayers who say it can't be done.

those naysayers who attack the integrity of the entire judicial system

Recent Examples on the Web

Most importantly, for the naysayers that don’t believe an all-electric muscle car can be as enjoyable as the gas-only versions of the past: try one out. —Kristin Shaw, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2025

And despite naysayers, the genre – and all its subgenres, from contemporary cowboy romance to dark romance with morally grey leads to STEMinist rom-coms – is only growing. —Clare Mulroy, USA TODAY, 17 Feb. 2025

All of the whatever… The naysayers, the doubt right. —Ryan Gaydos, Fox News, 19 Jan. 2025

This fun comedy is a hidden gem on the streamer starring Eddie Murphy as real-life legend Rudy Ray Moore, a comedy and rap pioneer who proved naysayers wrong when his hilarious, obscene, kung-fu fighting alter ego, Dolemite, became a 1970s Blaxploitation phenomenon. —Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 14 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1721, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for naysayer

• assayer
• ballplayer
• betrayer
• bilayer
• bricklayer
• conveyer
• conveyor
• purveyor
• ratepayer
• soothsayer
• surveyor
• taxpayer