detract

[dih-trakt] / dɪˈtrækt /

VERB

take away a part; lessen

Synonyms

STRONGEST

draw away

STRONG

backbite belittle blister cheapen decrease decry depreciate derogate devaluate diminish discount discredit disesteem knock lower minimize reduce underrate undervalue vilipend withdraw

WEAK

laugh at misprize subtract from write off

Antonyms

STRONG

commend compliment develop enlarge exaggerate exalt expand extend grow increase laud overestimate overrate overvalue praise raise upgrade value

WEAK

add to optimize

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.

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

From Slate • May 10, 2026

"So yes, we are close allies, we do disagree on things, but that doesn't detract from the value that both sides get from this relationship and have done over many decades," she said.

From BBC • Apr. 14, 2026

The day-to-day volatility comes with the territory, analysts at Citi say, but it shouldn’t detract investors from buying Nebius.

From Barron's • Mar. 17, 2026

While the show loosely follows a story, I didn’t always find it easy to follow, though that didn’t detract from the experience.

From Salon • Mar. 7, 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

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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