contrarians
Those who disagree
Contrarians are people who take opposing positions, especially when those positions go against popular opinion or conventional wisdom.
The term appears often in investing, where contrarian investors buy when others sell and sell when others buy: The contrarians were loading up on tech stocks during the crash.
More broadly, it describes anyone who habitually disagrees or argues the unpopular side: Leave it to the contrarians to defend the most hated policy.
Opposer of established systems
- nonconformistRejects prevailing social standards
- rebelAuthority defier
- maverickIndependent-minded rule-breaker
- iconoclastAttacker of cherished beliefs
heretic · renegade · objector · protester · naysayer · refusenik · malcontent · agitator
Act against something
- disputeVerbal clash over differences
- defyResist or challenge openly
- resistOppose or refuse compliance
- counterFlat service surface
contradict · challenge · disagree · rebut · refute · reject · dissent · pushback
One who values autonomy
- free-thinkerOne who reasons independently
- autonomousSelf-directed and free
- self-reliantAble to provide independently
- unconventionalDeparting from standard practice
original · eccentric · idiosyncratic · bohemian · pioneer · trailblazer · lone wolf · outsider
One who disbelieves
- cynicDoubter of good intentions
- questionerOne who poses inquiries
- criticOne who judges merit
- disbelieverOne who denies truth
scoffer · empiricist · rationalist · debunker · fact-checker · scrutinizer · pessimist · realist
dissident
Opposer of established systems
- nonconformistRejects prevailing social standards
- rebelAuthority defier
- maverickIndependent-minded rule-breaker
iconoclast · heretic · renegade · objector · protester · naysayer · refusenik · malcontent · agitator · opponent
oppose
Act against something
counter · contradict · challenge · disagree · rebut · refute · reject · dissent · pushback · defiance
individualist
One who values autonomy
- free-thinkerOne who reasons independently
- autonomousSelf-directed and free
- self-reliantAble to provide independently
unconventional · original · eccentric · idiosyncratic · bohemian · pioneer · trailblazer · lone wolf · outsider · solitary
doubter
One who disbelieves
- cynicDoubter of good intentions
- questionerOne who poses inquiries
- criticOne who judges merit
disbeliever · scoffer · empiricist · rationalist · debunker · fact-checker · scrutinizer · pessimist · realist · agnostic
- dissentersdissenter, dissenters, dissidents, dissident, nonconformists
- Iconoclastsheretics, freethinkers, dissidents, mavericks, radicals
- annoyancesannoyance, annoyances, irritations, irritation, nuisance
- obstaclesbarriers, block, obstacles, barrier, blockers
- opinion makerspundits, commentators, columnists, editorialists, op-ed writers
- Political Groupsfaction, Republican Party, caucus, Democratic Party, wing
contrariansconformists
Those obeying social norms
followers · sheep · conventionalists · lemmings · traditionalists
contrarianstrue believers
Unwavering adherents to doctrine
dogmatists · devotees · loyalists · partisans · zealots
contrariansteam players
Those prioritizing collective success
harmonizers · accommodators · peacemakers · diplomats · mediators