yea-sayer

yea·say·er
UK/ˈjeɪˌseɪ.ə(ɹ)/US/ˈjeɪˌseɪ.ɚ/

noun

One whose attitude is positive, optimistic, confidently affirmative.

Similar
optimistcan-doeryes-mandoormatkowtower
Opposite
naysayernay-sayer
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Meanings

nounyea-sayer (plural yea-sayers)

plural yea-sayers · alternative yeasayer

  1. One whose attitude is positive, optimistic, confidently affirmative.

    Synonyms: optimist, can-doer

  2. derogatoryOne who habitually agrees uncritically.

    Synonyms: yes-man, doormat, kowtower · Antonyms: naysayer, nay-sayer

Synonyms & antonyms

nounOne whose attitude is positive, optimistic, confidently affirmative.

Similar
optimistcan-doer

nounOne who habitually agrees uncritically.

Similar
yes-mandoormatkowtower
Opposite
naysayernay-sayer
Also see
yes-man

Origin

From yea + sayer and yea-say + -er, by analogy with naysayer. First attested in 1584.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Arabic إِمَّعَة
  • إِمَّعَة (ʔimmaʕa)one who habitually agrees uncritically — see also yes-man
Czech přikyvovač
  • přikyvovačone who habitually agrees uncritically — see also yes-man
Finnish jees-mies
  • jees-miesone who habitually agrees uncritically — see also yes-man
German Jasager, Ja-Sager
  • Jasagerone who habitually agrees uncritically — see also yes-man
  • Ja-Sagerone who habitually agrees uncritically — see also yes-man
  • Jasagerinone who habitually agrees uncritically — see also yes-man
  • Ja-Sagerinone who habitually agrees uncritically — see also yes-man
Polish leming, przytakiwacz
  • lemingone who habitually agrees uncritically — see also yes-man
  • przytakiwaczone who habitually agrees uncritically — see also yes-man
  • klakierone who habitually agrees uncritically — see also yes-man
Russian подхалим, подпевала
  • подхалим (podxalim)one who habitually agrees uncritically — see also yes-man
  • подпевала (podpevala)one who habitually agrees uncritically — see also yes-man
Cite this entry
APA

yea-sayer. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/yea-sayer

MLA

“yea-sayer.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/yea-sayer. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “yea-sayer,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/yea-sayer.

Source: yea-sayer on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.