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detracting

verb

present participle of detract
as in distracting
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of detracting An expansion into New Mexico would add oil revenue from the Permian Basin to Texas, adding to its economy and detracting, in turn, from New Mexico's. — Kate Plummer, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detracting
  1. distracting
  2. diverting
Verb
  • The result is a safer-phone category that already spans traditional feature phones, minimalist devices and smartphones that have been deliberately stripped of distracting features.
    — Ashley Lynch, Miami Herald, 24 Sep. 2026
  • Schedule time away from distracting apps If certain times of day are your weak spot, Downtime can help.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of distracting
Verb
  • Ryan plays Carla Russo, a veteran nurse at Yale Fertility Center who pleads guilty to diverting vast amounts of fentanyl and diluting it with saline, forcing many patients to endure egg-retrieval surgery without anesthesia.
    — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 16 Sep. 2026
  • The bill calls for diverting 60% of the city's garbage from landfills and incineration over the next 20 years.
    — Madeleine Wright, CBS News, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of diverting

Browse Nearby Words

detracted
detracting
detraction
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Cite this Entry

“Detracting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detracting. Accessed 29 Sep. 2026.

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