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

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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

This dynamic drew criticism from readers — and, later, a response from Berry.

— August Lamm, Washington Post, 8 Nov. 2026
Speaking in Spanish, Leo emphasized the importance of protecting family life and delivered a pointed criticism of both laws.

— Carrie Kahn, NPR, 7 Nov. 2026

Definition of criticism

Noun

This is the second time a federal judge has tossed the defamation suit, which sought $10 billion in damages.

— Scott Nover, Washington Post, 1 Nov. 2026
Trump sought at least $20 billion in damages on two counts of defamation in the initial suit, filed in July 2025.

— Payton Turkeltaub, Variety, 31 Oct. 2026

Definition of defamation

Noun

Saudi Arabia assembled a coalition backing the government, waging a yearslong campaign of air bombardment that brought it international condemnation over civilian deaths.

— AHMED HATEM, Arkansas Online, 8 Nov. 2026
News of his arrest quickly drew expressions of shock and disbelief from his colleagues — as well as condemnation from those who felt as though Townsend was being unfairly targeted by law enforcement because of the nature of his work.

— Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 6 Nov. 2026

Definition of condemnation

Noun

However, while return on investment for artificial intelligence remains uncertain, rising depreciation expenses from new data center buildouts present an additional drag on corporate profitability.

— , CNBC, 4 Nov. 2026
The initial spending surge is climbing but losing steam as AI capex growth as a share of GDP slows, the boost from last year’s tax depreciation incentives fades, and the stock-market wealth effect cools.

— Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of depreciation

Noun

The abuse included shooting him with a BB gun, burning his genitals and forcing him to eat cat feces.

— Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 6 Nov. 2026
Surveys show that both Democrats and Republicans believe that sizable proportions of the other side favor wrongful imprisonment, tax fraud, embezzlement, adultery, animal abuse, and child pornography.

— Paul Bloom, New Yorker, 6 Nov. 2026

Definition of abuse

Noun

As my colleague Clare Malone has reported in this magazine, Weiss first came to public attention in college, as a consequence of her support for Israel and consistent denigrations of the Palestinian cause.

— Vinson Cunningham, New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2026
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

Definition of denigration

Noun

These days, the interjection does a lot of work online as an all-purpose signifier of derogation.

— Eugenie Brinkema, ARTnews.com, 17 Oct. 2026
The big one is to maintain the 2030–2035 car CO2 targets in the upcoming regulatory review, and to disallow any derogation for hybrids after 2035.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 17 Oct. 2025

Definition of derogation

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detracting

detraction

detractions

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“Detraction.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detraction. Accessed 13 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of detraction

noun

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