detracted; detracting; detracts
: to diminish the importance, value, or effectiveness of something
—often used with from
small errors that do not seriously detract from the book
1
: divert
didn't mean to detract attention from the guest of honor
2
archaic
: to speak ill of
3
archaic
: to take away
Examples of detract in a Sentence
numerous typos in the text detract the reader's attention from the novel's intricate plot
Recent Examples on the Web
Peas enrich the soil with nitrogen, benefitting turnips, while turnips detract aphids, which benefits peas.
—
Sheryl Geerts, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Oct. 2024
And remember, competition is anything that detracts people from your business.
—Michael Newman, Rolling Stone, 30 Sep. 2024
The dichotomy is not a particularly illuminating one, but this detracts little from the stimulation of each individual subject.
—Idrees Kahloon, The New Yorker, 2 Sep. 2024
Watching a movie with only a brain module for vision—without access to the one for emotions—would detract greatly from the experience.
—Max Bertolero, Scientific American, 1 July 2019
See all Example Sentences for detract 
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Sheryl Geerts, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Oct. 2024
And remember, competition is anything that detracts people from your business.
—Michael Newman, Rolling Stone, 30 Sep. 2024
The dichotomy is not a particularly illuminating one, but this detracts little from the stimulation of each individual subject.
—Idrees Kahloon, The New Yorker, 2 Sep. 2024
Watching a movie with only a brain module for vision—without access to the one for emotions—would detract greatly from the experience.
—Max Bertolero, Scientific American, 1 July 2019
See all Example Sentences for detract
Articles Related to detract
Dictionary Entries Near detract
Cite this Entry
“Detract.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/detract. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
detract
verb
de·tract
di-ˈtrakt 
: to take away some of the value or importance
detract from a person's reputation
detraction
noun
-ˈtrak-shən
detractive
adjective
-ˈtrak-tiv
detractively
adverb
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