detract

verb

de·​tract di-ˈtrakt 

dē-

detracted; detracting; detracts

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

transitive verb

1

: divert

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

2

archaic : to speak ill of

3

archaic : to take away

detractor

di-ˈtrak-tər 

dē-

noun

Synonyms

• divert
• throw off

Examples of detract in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples on the Web

Some asserted that the commitment and costs of traveling and attending meetings paired with the limited compensation was detracting members of the public from running for office. —Luis Melecio-Zambrano, Mercury News, 19 Sep. 2025

And despite doubling the one-off charge paid by high-net-worth individuals on their foreign income to 200,000 euros ($233,000) in 2024, this has done little to detract demand for la dolce vita. —Karen Gilchrist, CNBC, 5 Sep. 2025

Over time, the fabric will develop a subtle patina—that velvety sheen that actually adds character rather than detracts. —Zoë Sessums, Architectural Digest, 4 Sep. 2025

For Loeffler, a 50-year-old father of three kids, those ever-expanding duties demanded too much time and detracted too much attention from the objects of his sports obsessions. —Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English detracten "to speak ill of, slander," in part borrowed from Latin dētractus, past participle of dētrahere "to detach by pulling, strip off, pull down, deprive of, speak ill (of)," from dē- de- + trahere "to drag, draw, take along"; in part borrowed from Latin dētractāre, dētrectāre "to decline, evade, speak or write disparagingly of," iterative of dētrahere — more at abstract entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2

Phrases Containing detract

• detract from

Rhymes for detract

• abstract
• attacked
• attract
• contact
• contract
• distract
• enact
• exact
• extract
• hijacked
• impact
• intact

Kids Definition

detract

verb

de·​tract di-ˈtrakt 

: to take away some of the value or importance

detract from a person's reputation

detraction

-ˈtrak-shən

noun

detractive

-ˈtrak-tiv

adjective

detractively adverb

detractor

-ˈtrak-tər 

noun