detraction
Americannoun
noun
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a person, thing, circumstance, etc, that detracts
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the act of discrediting or detracting from another's reputation, esp by slander; disparagement
Etymology
Origin of detraction
1300–50; Middle English (< Anglo-French ) < Late Latin dētractiōn- (stem of dētractiō ), equivalent to Latin dētract ( us ) ( detract ) + -iōn- -ion
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.
For the Logan community the charter has long been an unwanted detraction from their efforts.
From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 16, 2025
His relatively modest number of caps, in contrast to some of the other players in that World Cup winning side, is no detraction from his talent.
From BBC • Dec. 23, 2022
She told the BBC: “Not having that would be a detraction of the ceremony, and we’re very big on pomp in the U.K.”
From Washington Post • May 10, 2022
The one detraction this season is that The Knick seems to be trying a little too hard to draw the parallels between modern New York and the one 114 years ago.
From The Guardian • Oct. 16, 2015
Thy wit never borrows its charms from the shafts of detraction.
From Voltaire's Romances, Complete in One Volume by
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
