gainsayer
- noun
- /ˈɡeɪnˌseɪər/
- Formal
:
negador
- Many gainsayers argue against the effectiveness of climate action, but scientists continue to present solid evidence.
Examples
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To be successful, you must learn how to deal with the gainsayers who criticize your innovative proposals.
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In every meeting, the gainsayer challenged the manager's ideas, creating a tense atmosphere.
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"The gainsayers must be stopped," he decided, rushing to press with his sermon, attached to a fifty-three-page appendix.
Academic text (2006)
Synonyms
28
7.0
A person who often says that plans or ideas will not work
27
8.4
A person who refuses to believe clear evidence
22
7.2
A person who disagrees with common ideas or with those in charge
20
6.3
A person who says an opposite or unpopular opinion to start a discussion
19
6.3
A person who opposes another person, often in a story or argument
15
5.1
A person who disagrees with a law or plan and says so
6
6.2
A person who opposes authority or control
3
6.1
A person who shows that false or exaggerated claims are not true
2
4.5
A person who speaks out against a plan or idea
1
4.0
A person who refuses to accept an idea or plan
1
8.4
A person who argues with others, often in debates or meetings
1
7.9
A person who shows an idea or argument is wrong with evidence
A person who openly refuses to obey rules or authority
A person who often argues and challenges other people's ideas
A person who proves an argument wrong by giving evidence
A person who uses evidence to show that an idea or claim is wrong
A person who argues strongly in writing about religion or ideas
Antonyms
How Opposed
Surface Forms
Morphology
Etymology
The word gainsayer comes from old English parts gain ('against') and say ('speak'), so it literally means 'one who speaks against'. That's why a gainsayer today is a person who denies or opposes something, not someone who 'gains' money.