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

Yet Valdés Ugalde points out that the US shows no signs of caring about Mexican criticisms of its immigration policy.

— Mauricio Torres, CNN Money, 12 July 2026
The veteran official has spent 2026 fielding criticism, and his last month has been rough.

— Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 12 July 2026

Definition of criticism

Noun

In June, a federal judge ordered Baldoni and his production company to pay Lively’s attorney fees related to his unsuccessful defamation lawsuit against her, but rejected her bid for additional damages.

— Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026
Baldoni accused Lively, her husband, Ryan Reynolds, the couple's publicist, Leslie Sloane, and others of extortion and defamation, among other claims.

— ABC News, ABC News, 9 July 2026

Definition of defamation

Noun

Asserting claims for tortious interference, civil conspiracy, commercial disparagement and violations of Illinois consumer fraud laws, the Butlers sought more than $50 million in compensatory damages and over $200 million in punitive damages.

— Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 22 June 2026
These disparagements cut to the core of southern manhood.

— Rob Wolfe, The Atlantic, 5 June 2026

Definition of disparagement

Noun

The government’s unprecedented move this week sparked condemnations across the political and legal spectrum, sounding the alarm that Israel was becoming a country whose executive no longer felt bound by the rule of law.

— Dina Kraft, Christian Science Monitor, 10 July 2026
With no end in sight to the fighting after one year of bloodshed, the IOC reiterates its condemnation of the war in Ukraine, which is a blatant violation of the Olympic Truce that was in effect at the time, and the Olympic Charter.

— Tracy Grant, Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 July 2026

Definition of condemnation

Noun

And at a time of record-high rates of EV depreciation, what would happen to the value of their cars?

— Andrew J. Hawkins, The Verge, 10 July 2026
Qnity may raise its full-year guidance for revenue and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization due to growing fabrication plant utilization across the company's semiconductor customers, the analyst added.

— Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 6 July 2026

Definition of depreciation

Noun

Formerly incarcerated people with disabilities, chronic mental health or substance abuse issues and those who are older tend to be at higher risk for post-incarceration homelessness, Western said.

— Amber Gaudet July 18, Charlotte Observer, 18 July 2026
That honest job has, across four generations, fed prime ministers and paupers, cooked for the King and Queen, and quietly funded a one-man legal aid service for survivors of abuse.

— Afdhel Aziz, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026

Definition of abuse

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 18 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of detraction

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

quid pro quo

Popular in Grammar & Usage

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

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

Popular in Wordplay

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 17

Popular

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

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

Games & Quizzes