detractors
Those who disparage
Detractors are people who criticize or disparage something or someone.
The word usually appears in contexts where the criticized party is defending themselves: The film had its detractors, but audiences loved it.
Unlike critics, who may offer balanced assessment, detractors are understood to be hostile or dismissive: Despite his detractors, the mayor won reelection.
Those who dismiss ideas
- faultfindersPeople who criticize constantly
- disparagersThose who demean others
- knockersDoor-striking devices
- hatersThose who loathe
bashers · carpers · nitpickers · censurers · condemners · denouncers · castigators · vilifiers
People who question claims
- cynicsDoubters of sincerity
- questionersPeople who pose queries
- disbelieversThose who reject claims
- scoffersPeople who express contempt
debunkers · pessimists · mistrusters · naysayers · second-guessers · unbelievers · agnostics · distrusters
Those who oppose you
- antagonistsOpponents in conflict
- enemiesHostile opposing parties
- foesHostile opponents
- rivalsThose who compete
challengers · objectors · dissenters · resisters · obstructors · saboteurs · underminer · blockers
naysayers
Those who dismiss ideas
- faultfindersPeople who criticize constantly
- disparagersThose who demean others
- knockersDoor-striking devices
haters · bashers · carpers · nitpickers · censurers · condemners · denouncers · castigators · vilifiers · defamers
doubters
People who question claims
- cynicsDoubters of sincerity
- questionersPeople who pose queries
- disbelieversThose who reject claims
scoffers · debunkers · pessimists · mistrusters · naysayers · second-guessers · unbelievers · agnostics · distrusters
adversaries
Those who oppose you
- antagonistsOpponents in conflict
- enemiesHostile opposing parties
- foesHostile opponents
rivals · challengers · objectors · dissenters · resisters · obstructors · saboteurs · underminer · blockers · opposers
- criticscritic, critics, criticizer, criticizers, faultfinder
- obstaclesbarriers, block, obstacles, barrier, blockers
- scornersscoffers, mockers, deriders, sneerers, jeerers
- nitpickersfaultfinders, sticklers, hairsplitters, pedants, quibblers