Definition
A person who criticizes or reduces the reputation of someone or something; someone who makes negative comments about others.
Etymology
From detract + -er (agent noun suffix). The -er ending identifies someone who performs the action of detracting.
Kelly Says
A detracter is basically a hater with a fancier vocabulary—the word is useful in formal writing because it's more specific than 'critic' (critics analyze, detracters just tear you down) and more dignified than 'hater.'
Translations
ARالعربية
مُخَذِّف
mu-kha-dhif
CACatalà
reductor
re-du-ctor
CSČeština
odečtelec
oh-de-ch-te-lec
DADansk
aftrækningsmand
af-trak-nings-mand
DEDeutsch
Abzüger
a-b-zü-ger
ELΕλληνικά
αφαίρεση
af-ay-reh-seh
ESEspañol
restador
res-ta-dor
FAفارسی
کاستنده
kast-an-deh
FISuomi
vähennysväline
vä-hen-nys-vä-li-ne
FRFrançais
celui qui diminue
sel-wee kee dee-my-n
HIहिन्दी
घटाने वाला
ghāta-ne wa-la
IDBahasa Indonesia
pengurang
peng-urang
ITItaliano
riduttore
ri-do-ttore
JA日本語
減少させる人
kōshū saseru hito
KMKM
បានបន្ថែម
ba-n-ban-theam
KO한국어
깎는 사람
kkak-neun sa-ram
MRMR
कमी करणारा
ka-mee ka-ra-na-ra
MSBahasa Melayu
pengurang
peng-urang
MYမြန်မာ
ကျယ်ပြော
kyay-pyaw
NLNederlands
aftrekker
af-trek-ker
NONorsk
trekk-person
trek-per-son
PAPA
ਘਟਾਉਣਹਾਰ
ghatta-au-na-haar
PTPortuguês
reduzidor
re-du-zi-dor
RORomână
cel care reduce
cel-keh re-duce
RUРусский
уменьшитель
yumen-shi-tel
SVSvenska
avdragsgivare
av-drags-gi-vare
SWKiswahili
mnyenyekesha
m-nye-nye-ke-sha
TAதமிழ்
குறைப்பவர்
kuraip-pa-var
TEతెలుగు
తగ్గించేవారు
taggginche-vaaru
THไทย
ผู้หักออก
phoo huk awk
TRTürkçe
azaltan
az-alt-an
UKУкраїнська
знижувач
zny-zhu-vach
VITiếng Việt
người làm giảm đi
người làm giảm đi
ZUZU
sithuthiwe
si-thuthi-weh
Ethical Language Guidance
Gender History
The suffix '-er' conventionally marks agents; '-ress' marks female agents (detractress). This gendered agent nominalization reflects historical erasure of women's active roles as critics and opponents.
Inclusive Usage
Use 'detracter' for all genders. The '-er' form is now standard and gender-neutral.
Inclusive Alternatives
["critic (more precise)","opponent (more neutral)"]
Empowerment Note
Women have long served as critical voices and intellectual opponents; the '-ress' suffix unnecessarily marked them as exceptional rather than normal.