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
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
That shouldn’t detract too much from what remain a hugely stylish, powerful little laptop that is ideally suited to business executives who want a device to slip into their hand luggage.
—Barry Collins, Forbes, 14 Dec. 2024
Peas enrich the soil with nitrogen, benefitting turnips, while turnips detract aphids, which benefits peas.
—Sheryl Geerts, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Oct. 2024
In the first commercial for his shoe, Edwards pulls out signature models from rival brands and detracts them compared to his own.
—Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2019
See All Example Sentences for detract
Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2025
That shouldn’t detract too much from what remain a hugely stylish, powerful little laptop that is ideally suited to business executives who want a device to slip into their hand luggage.
—Barry Collins, Forbes, 14 Dec. 2024
Peas enrich the soil with nitrogen, benefitting turnips, while turnips detract aphids, which benefits peas.
—Sheryl Geerts, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Oct. 2024
In the first commercial for his shoe, Edwards pulls out signature models from rival brands and detracts them compared to his own.
—Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2019
See All Example Sentences for detract
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detract
Verb
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Following the crash, the Kendall County Sheriff’s Office announced on Facebook that the westbound lane of I-10 near the 534-mile marker was closed and that traffic was being diverted.—
Sam Gillette,
PEOPLE,
29 Oct. 2025
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The flight was diverted to Boston Logan International Airport, and Usiripalli was taken into custody.—
Cindy Von Quednow,
CNN Money,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Worse, the aluminum has a tendency to throw off fragments when struck, producing more debris, which is rather counterproductive.—
David Szondy
October 26,
New Atlas,
26 Oct. 2025
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The latter was looking to win a throw off the former with his clearance, but Aaronson managed to divert it back off the defender for a Leeds ball.—
Beren Cross,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Detract.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detract. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
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