Synonyms of detract

detract

verb

di-ˈtrakt 

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• divert
• throw off
• abstract
• distract
• amuse
• entertain
• call off
• stray
• wander
• beguile

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• focus
• concentrate

Example Sentences

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