Synonyms

detract

American

[dih-trakt] / dɪˈtrækt /

verb (used without object)

to take away a part, as from quality, value, or reputation (usually followed byfrom ).

verb (used with object)

to draw away or divert; distract.

to detract another's attention from more important issues.
Archaic. to take away (a part); abate.

The dilapidated barn detracts charm from the landscape.

detract British

/ dɪˈtrækt /

verb

to take away a part (of); diminish

her anger detracts from her beauty
(tr) to distract or divert
obsolete (tr) to belittle or disparage

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Usage

Detract is sometimes wrongly used where distract is meant: a noise distracted (not detracted ) my attention

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Inflected Forms

Participles

Conjugated Forms

Present

Past

Future

Etymology

Origin of detract

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Middle French detracter or directly from Latin dētractus “drawn away” (past participle of dētrahere ), equivalent to dē- de- + tractus “drawn”; see tract ¹

Explanation

If you detract from something — like an achievement or an opinion or an object — you take away some of its value or diminish it. That dent in the door of your car may detract from its overall value. The verb detract comes from the Latin word detrahere, meaning “draw away from,” or “take down.” If you detract from someone’s credibility, you reduce — or take down — that person's worth. When you make valid points opposing an argument a politician is making, you detract from her platform. Detract can also describe drawing attention away from something. If the politician then makes a public display of her humanity, she's trying to detract attention away from your arguments.

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Vocabulary lists containing detract

Abraham Lincoln's "Gettysburg Address" (1863)

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Grade 9, List 6

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"The Gettysburg Address," Vocabulary from the speech

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

detract detracts detracted detracting

Tensions between the Pacific's partners should not detract from island priorities on renewable energy, drug crime, food security and climate change, he urged.

From Barron's ● Aug. 31, 2026

"This combination can read as highly casual and youthful, which may unintentionally detract from giving you a credible and authoritative presence."

From BBC ● Aug. 5, 2026

Riley is mindful that his film’s more outré moments don’t detract from the underlying emotions he is trying to convey.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 20, 2026

Should they detract from her advice, when maybe hearing “I have a good kid” could really help someone?

From Slate ● May 10, 2026

The cold does not detract from the area’s beauty: Tiwanaku sits in the middle of a plain ringed by ice-capped mountains.

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann

So that people can understand why the drivers have been upset this year, what is it about these hybrid engines, and the need to recharge the batteries, that detracts from the best drivers' abilities?

From BBC ● Sep. 9, 2026

Opting out of that challenge detracts from the drama and prevents fans from seeing the best performers in action.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 1, 2025

And when you’re with other people, pocket the phone: Even its mere presence diverts attention and detracts from enjoyment.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 13, 2025

But he warned that even if India makes up for lost ground, “this kind of volatility is not good for the market on the whole. It detracts from the ambitious targets the government has set.”

From Seattle Times ● Feb. 6, 2024

As Turner states, the idea that the “performing arts” must always be performed onstage to be valid detracts from their use to develop and explore the emotional, cognitive, social development and human potential.

From "Music and the Child" by Natalie Sarrazin

The city’s price correction, along with a broader run-up in inventory in Texas, has detracted from Austin’s near-term appeal to builders, many of whom offer buyers incentives at the expense of their margins.

From Barron's ● May 31, 2026

The attention on Andrew has detracted from Charles’s proudest achievements and initiatives.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 5, 2026

Frazier’s natural skill as an “Entertainment Tonight” host helped smooth the transitions to Malkin’s stammering and distracting voice, but their worthless gushing detracted from the moment.

From Salon ● Jan. 12, 2026

Sony also maintained that budget cuts within CBS had detracted from the network’s efforts to support the two shows.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 16, 2025

They detracted not only from who he incontestably was—a grandmaster and the United States Champion—but who he believed he was—the strongest player in the world.

From "Endgame" by Frank Brady

Mr. Gallo’s design for this is evocative, but a backdrop depicting a cityscape looms behind it, detracting from the play’s intimacy.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 26, 2026

But regardless of how that comeback ends, Vonn isn’t worried about it detracting from what she’s already accomplished.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 28, 2025

He wove intricate technical details into his stories, without detracting from the lightning pace of his plots.

From BBC ● Jun. 9, 2025

I can sort of deal with it but worry about them doing it during important meetings and can see it as detracting from important messaging and hurting our shared goals.

From New York Times ● May 14, 2023

A Man ought to have the Fame he deserves—and I begin to think that detracting from him as well as from Wordsworth is the same thing.

From Letters of John Keats to His Family and Friends by John Keats

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023