Synonyms

detractive

American

[dih-trak-tiv] / dɪˈtræk tɪv /

Also detractory

adjective

tending or seeking to detract.

Other Word Forms

detractively adverb
detractiveness noun
nondetractive adjective
nondetractively adverb
nondetractory adjective
undetractive adjective
undetractively adverb
undetractory adjective

Etymology

Origin of detractive

From the Middle French word detractif, dating back to 1480–90. See detract, -ive

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.

By naming Breitbart News’ Stephen Bannon as his top campaign executive, Trump is taking a detractive, rather than additive approach to voter engagement, even among would-be allies on the right. Recently,

From Salon

Beyond this, the detractive gossip attacked the personnel of the new company.

From Project Gutenberg

Well, I'll knock under; I'll agree to your high estimate of them, intellectually and morally, only with that detractive element of poverty which makes even clever men submissive, and occasionally squeezes conscience into a compromise.

From Project Gutenberg

Doth a man reproach thee for being proud or ill-natured, envious or conceited, ignorant or detractive, consider with thyself whether his reproaches be true.

From Project Gutenberg

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