detract

de·tract

verb \di-ˈtrakt, dē-\

Definition of DETRACT

transitive verb

1

archaic : to speak ill of

2

archaic : to take away

3

: divert <detract attention>

intransitive verb

: to diminish the importance, value, or effectiveness of something —often used with from <small errors that do not seriously detract from the book>

— de·trac·tor \-ˈtrak-tər\ noun

Examples of DETRACT

1. <numerous typos in the text detract the reader's attention from the novel's intricate plot>

Origin of DETRACT

Middle English, from Latin detractus, past participle of detrahere to pull down, disparage, from de- + trahere to draw

First Known Use: 15th century

Related to DETRACT

Synonyms: abstract, call off, distract, divert, throw off

Related Words: amuse, beguile, entertain; stray, wander

Near Antonyms: concentrate, focus

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Rhymes with DETRACT

abstract, attract, class act, compact, contact, contract, crookbacked, didact, diffract, distract, enact, entr'acte, epact, exact, extract, humpbacked, hunchbacked, impact, infract, intact, mossbacked, playact, protract, react, redact, refract, retract, sex act, subtract, swaybacked, transact, unbacked