detract

C2 Topic:Actions & Processes

US /dɪˈtrækt/ UK /dɪˈtɹækt/ See IPA manual

verb Freq #60734

Meanings

1

verb
To make something seem less good or valuable.

The cheap frame detracted from the beauty of the painting.
2

verb
To damage someone's reputation by criticizing them unfairly.

Rivals tried to detract from her achievements out of jealousy.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to make something seem less... take away

2 verb · to damage someone's... defame decry belittle

Word family

Forms detracteddetractingdetracts

Derived forms detractabledetractiondetractivedetractor

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle French détracter, from Latin detractum, past participle of detraho.

détracter Middle French detractum Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Actions & Processes

# detract

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** dɪˈtrækt
**IPA (UK):** dɪˈtɹækt
**Frequency rank:** 60734

## Meanings
1. To make something seem less good or valuable.
2. To damage someone's reputation by criticizing them unfairly.

## Examples
- The cheap frame detracted from the beauty of the painting.
- Rivals tried to detract from her achievements out of jealousy.

## Derived Forms
- detractable
- detraction
- detractive
- detractor

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: détracter
- Root: detractum

## Etymology
Borrowed from Middle French détracter, from Latin detractum, past participle of detraho.

## AI Etymology
Detract is borrowed from Middle French détracter, from Latin detractum, past participle of detraho. Important recorded forms include détracter (Middle French) and detractum (Latin). Current senses include to make something seem less good or valuable and to damage someone's reputation by criticizing them unfairly. The wider family includes derived forms such as detractable, detraction, detractive, and detractor.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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detract

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