DETRACTOR Synonyms: 42 Similar and Opposite Words

detractor

noun

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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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 More than two decades later, however, criticism of the policy’s ineffectiveness has reached new heights as detractors argue the rule can be easily skirted as there’s no oversight. —

Miami Herald, 28 Mar. 2026 Ocean Aged at Sea has as many fans as detractors, so clearly Zoeller felt like expanding this concept—and introducing it to more consumers by partnering with a cruise ship line—was the right move. —

Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 27 Mar. 2026 Even Kyler Murray’s biggest detractors can’t deny that getting the quarterback on the veteran minimum is excellent value. —

Ted Nguyen, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2026 Stevie Martin, actor one of the more recent examples, David Mitchell and Robert Webb’ Channel 4 sketch show Mitchell and Webb Are Not Helping, passionately hit out at detractors. —

Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 21 Mar. 2026 From Democratic senators to industry insiders, detractors came down hard on the deal. —

Paul Flahive, Austin American Statesman, 19 Mar. 2026 Caesar's few detractors reconsidered. —

CBS News, 19 Mar. 2026 Despite the enthusiasm around the project, which would have introduced Ryan Kiera Armstrong as the new slayer alongside Gellar’s Buffy, Gellar pointed to at least one very vocal detractor. —

Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 17 Mar. 2026 Other detractors have included Juliette Binoche, Andrea Bocelli and Doja Cat — though Doja Cat later retracted her comments and admitted to using the controversy to get attention. —

Selome Hailu, Variety, 13 Mar. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for detractor

Noun

Broidy’s lawyers also alleged that Chalker had orchestrated the hacking of the Emirati Ambassador to Washington and had used spy tactics against critics who opposed Qatar’s role as host of the World Cup in 2022.

— David D. Kirkpatrick, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2026
But some conservative critics bristled at the annual outings, especially since Francis would also wash the feet of Muslims and people of other faiths.

— Nicole Winfield, Los Angeles Times, 29 Mar. 2026