as in to divert
to draw the attention or mind to something else
numerous typos in the text detract the reader's attention from the novel's intricate plot
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Recent Examples of detract
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
See All Example Sentences for detract
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
See All Example Sentences for detract
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detract
Verb
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There are a number of ways to divert excess water away from flower beds, like trenching, extending gutters, or installing a rain barrel.—
Barbara Gillette,
The Spruce,
15 Jan. 2026
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The complaint asserts that Minneapolis and Saint Paul have been forced to divert officers from their usual duties to respond to incidents involving federal immigration enforcement, undermining local efforts to protect the community.—
Danya Gainor,
CNN Money,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Most of the intrigue occurs in watching these varied human behaviors in a crisis and how quickly things shift and change when Sam’s plan is thrown off course or law enforcement intervenes in unexpected ways.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
14 Jan. 2026
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The timing on the final play was thrown off when Love dropped the snap.—
Jay Cohen,
Twin Cities,
11 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Detract.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detract. Accessed 22 Jan. 2026.
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