DETRACTION Synonyms: 42 Similar and Opposite Words

detraction

noun

di-ˈtrak-shən

Definition of detraction

as in criticism

the act of making a person or a thing seem little or unimportant her inevitable detraction of every new idea is annoying to the other club members

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 detraction Agreeing with Kruse, Commissioner Tal Siddique cited the lack of commercial land as his main detraction for the project. — Miami Herald, 24 Feb. 2026 Each heart shaped decanter features layered references to its source and heritage that enhance and frame the spirit itself without detraction. — Mark Littler, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025 Many smart investors, among them, several of my colleagues, cannot warm up to these stocks because of such obvious detractions as the lack of new products, patent expirations, and price controls. — Karen Firestone, CNBC, 29 Sep. 2024 That means that the overriding security responsibility will be left in Israel's hands, and that's a detraction of sovereign powers. — Eric Cortellessa/jerusalem, TIME, 8 Aug. 2024 See All Example Sentences for detraction

Recent Examples of Synonyms for detraction

Noun

Carlson has faced criticism for interviewing Holocaust revisionist Darryl Cooper in 2024 and white nationalist Nick Fuentes, who has repeatedly denied the Holocaust, made antisemitic comments, and praised Adolf Hitler.

— Rena Rowe, The Washington Examiner, 3 Oct. 2026
The statement came only after Thomas called out the commissioner, intensifying criticism that the league had been reactive throughout the controversy.

— Jackson Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of criticism

Noun

Aside from Baldoni, Wallace’s other clients have included actress Rebel Wilson, who is now embroiled in her own defamation litigation with Amanda Ghost, a producer on her film The Deb.

— Gary Baum, HollywoodReporter, 28 Sep. 2026
Oxygen Forensics denied those claims and sued Weissberg for defamation in August in federal court in Virginia, calling the video part of a retaliatory campaign.

— Anniek Bao,Dan Mangan, CNBC, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of defamation

Noun

Iamaleava could have allowed the disparagement to compound, but the starting signal-caller is using it as fuel for a 2026 season where many have the Bruins painted as a potential dark horse.

— Connor Dullinger, Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2026
Her mother, meanwhile, is backed up by her second husband (Kwon), a mild-mannered documentary filmmaker whose profession gives his wife yet more ammunition in her smiling disparagement of Sanghee.

— Guy Lodge, Variety, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of disparagement

Noun

Videos also surfaced allegedly showing two teachers being attacked by students, provoking condemnation from the French president and officials as well as teaching unions.

— Joseph Ataman, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2026
Recent campaign filings by the Yes on Proposition 45 campaign revealed two donations that quickly drew condemnations from Democratic leaders.

— Andrew Graham, Sacbee.com, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of condemnation

Noun

According to industry sources, in 2025 Pinalli’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization stood at 25 million euros.

— Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 30 Sep. 2026
Corporations also benefit from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act with their tax rates decreasing from 35% to 21% and even down to 15% when depreciation deductions were added.

— Dr. Michael Good, Hartford Courant, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of depreciation

Noun

This keeps the performance informal and keeps the narrative — a staggering odyssey of injustices, abuses, travel adventures, extraordinary coincidences, losses, reunions, reflections and self-analysis — from becoming sensationalized.

— Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 2 Oct. 2026
RatHat abuses that legitimate feature to establish shell-level access outside the normal Android app sandbox.

— Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of abuse

Noun

Freedom, mobility; who gets to be an artist; style, ornamentation, artifice; work, leisure; the counterculture; the denigration of femininity; West Coast oddballism.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Sep. 2026
For me, this marks an early moment in the denigration of women.

— Eana Kim, ARTnews.com, 27 Apr. 2026

Definition of denigration

Browse Nearby Words

detracting

detraction

detractions

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Detraction.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detraction. Accessed 5 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of detraction

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

perseverate

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes