detraction

noun

de·​trac·​tion di-ˈtrak-shən 

dē-

1

: a lessening of reputation or esteem especially by envious, malicious, or petty criticism : belittling, disparagement

2

: a taking away

it is no detraction from its dignity or prestige

—J. F. Golay

detractive

di-ˈtrak-tiv 

dē-

adjective

detractively adverb

Synonyms

• belittlement
• denigration
• deprecation
• depreciation
• derogation
• diminishment
• disparagement
• put-down

Examples of detraction in a Sentence

her inevitable detraction of every new idea is annoying to the other club members

Recent Examples on the Web

The main detraction with these was a less comfortable fit. —Maggie Slepian, Travel + Leisure, 11 Feb. 2025

The main detraction with these was a less comfortable fit. —Maggie Slepian, Travel + Leisure, 11 Feb. 2025

The main detraction with these was a less comfortable fit. —Maggie Slepian, Travel + Leisure, 27 Nov. 2024

Many smart investors, among them, several of my colleagues, cannot warm up to these stocks because of such obvious detractions as the lack of new products, patent expirations, and price controls. —Karen Firestone, CNBC, 29 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English detraccioun, borrowed from Anglo-French & Late Latin; Anglo-French detraciun, borrowed from Late Latin dētractiōn-, dētractiō, going back to Latin, "removal, withdrawal, omission of words," from dētrahere "to detach by pulling, strip off, pull down, deprive of, speak ill (of)" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action — more at detract

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for detraction

• abstraction
• attraction
• compaction
• contraction
• diffraction
• distraction
• exaction
• extraction
• impaction
• inaction
• infraction
• olfaction