Hater, critic, or troll?
When you call someone a hater, you are saying their criticism does not count. That is useful, but it is not always fair. These three words are close, so here is how they differ.
| Word | What they do | Is it fair? |
|---|---|---|
| Critic | Points out problems, often to help or to inform | Often fair, and sometimes useful |
| Hater | Criticizes you or your success again and again, maybe out of jealousy | Not fair, in the speaker’s opinion |
| Troll | Posts things online only to make people angry | No. They want a reaction, not a change |
Be careful with the word. People sometimes call any criticism "hate", even when it is true. If your friend says your cake is a little dry, that friend is a critic, not a hater.
In the older meaning, hater has nothing to do with criticism. A "Monday hater" or a "cat hater" is just a person who strongly dislikes Mondays or cats.
Sources
- HATER | meaning in the Cambridge English DictionaryCambridge Dictionary
- haters gonna hateDictionary.com
- 'Hater' definition & examples from rap lyrics in The Right Rhymes Hip-Hop DictionaryThe Right Rhymes
