detract

verb de·tract \ di-ˈtrakt , dē- \

Updated on: 15 Apr 2018

Definition of detract

transitive verb

1 archaic : to speak ill of

2 archaic : to take away

3 : divert

didn't mean to detract attention from the guest of honor

intransitive verb

: to diminish the importance, value, or effectiveness of something —often used with from

small errors that do not seriously detract from the book

—

detractor

play \-ˈtrak-tər\ noun

See detract defined for English-language learners

See detract defined for kids

Examples of detract in a Sentence

numerous typos in the text detract the reader's attention from the novel's intricate plot

Recent Examples of detract from the Web

Walking on a wet lawn this time of year compacts the soil, which is a sure way to invite problems that will detract from your lawn's appearance.

— jeff lowenfels, Anchorage Daily News, "It’s spring – so stay off that soggy lawn," 12 Apr. 2018
To be clear, a case for one player does not detract from the case of another.

— jeff zillgitt, USA TODAY, "NBA MVP: Does James Harden or LeBron James have the better case?," 10 Apr. 2018
Reproducibility and reproductions are increasingly accepted as a normal aspect of an artist’s output; that the work is part of an edition shouldn’t detract from its value.

— Bloomberg.com, "How Can One Artwork Have Four Very Different Price Tags?," 4 Apr. 2018
But the lavish designs shouldn't detract from the main point of letter writing - making meaningful connections.

— nikki delamotte, cleveland.com, "Cleveland's Instagram-inspired Letter Writers Club puts modern twist on being pen pals," 3 Apr. 2018
That emphasis, experts said, detracts from other parts of the plan that might highlight, say, addiction treatment.

— shefali luthra, Washington Post, "Congress Tackles The Opioid Epidemic. But How Much Will It Help?," 19 Mar. 2018
But none of this detracts from what Smith and his band could accomplish at their best, or from the animating principle that gave them life in the first place.

— nathaniel friedman, Billboard, "I've Never Felt Better In My Life: The Fall's 'The Classical' and Mark E. Smith's Terrible, Glorious Freedom," 26 Jan. 2018
But, as Refinery29's own Ariana Romero reported, her views seem to actually enhance, rather than detract from, the series' overall plot.

— refinery29.com, "More People Watched The Premiere Of Roseanne Than This Is Us," 28 Mar. 2018
That's a little annoying but doesn't detract from the general flow of frantic combat.

— sam machkovech, Ars Technica, "Final Fantasy XV for Windows should have been a mess, but it’s the opposite," 7 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'detract.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of detract

Middle English, from Latin detractus, past participle of detrahere to pull down, disparage, from de- + trahere to draw

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

See Words from the same year

detract Synonyms

DETRACT Defined for Kids

detract

verb de·tract \ di-ˈtrakt \

Definition of detract for Students

detracted; detracting

: to take away (as from value or importance) Signs detract from the beauty of the scenery.

Learn More about detract

See words that rhyme with detract Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for detract Spanish Central: Translation of detract Nglish: Translation of detract for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of detract for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up detract? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

detract

Definition of detract

detractor

Examples of detract in a Sentence

Recent Examples of detract from the Web

Origin and Etymology of detract

detract Synonyms

Synonyms

Near Antonyms

Related Words

DETRACT Defined for Kids

detract

Definition of detract for Students

Learn More about detract

Seen and Heard

WORD OF THE DAY

loath

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Test Your Vocabulary

Words at Play

'Complement' vs. 'Compliment'

Words from Letters in the Greek Alphabet

'Preventive' or 'Preventative'?

Words We're Watching: 'Bluebeard,' the Verb

Ask the Editors

2017 Word of the Year: Behind the Scenes

Words of the Year: 1066

Literally

Is Singular 'They' a Better Choice?

Word Games

Odd Habits and Quirks Quiz

More Confusing Words—Quiz

True or False?

SCRABBLE® Sprint

'Complement' vs. 'Compliment'

Trending: HRC: Media Opened Door to 'Charlatans'

Going Greek: 7 Words from the Greek Alphabet

Odd Habits and Quirks Quiz

2017 Word of the Year: Behind the Scenes

detract

Definition of detract

detractor

Examples of detract in a Sentence

Recent Examples of detract from the Web

Origin and Etymology of detract

detract Synonyms

Synonyms

Near Antonyms

Related Words

Phrases Related to DETRACT

Related Phrases

DETRACT Defined for Kids

detract

Definition of detract for Students

Learn More about detract

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games

'Complement' vs. 'Compliment'

Trending: HRC: Media Opened Door to 'Charlatans'

Going Greek: 7 Words from the Greek Alphabet

Odd Habits and Quirks Quiz

2017 Word of the Year: Behind the Scenes