SYNONYMS AND RELATED EXPRESSIONS
detract
verb
To reduce the value, quality, or appeal of something, usually in the phrase detract from.
Local English device voice, when available. This is not a recorded dictionary pronunciation.
Reduce worth or appeal
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topDetract usually takes from; mar and spoil generally take the affected thing as a direct object.
CHECK THE MEANING IN CONTEXT
See detract in use
Repeated interruptions would detract from an otherwise thoughtful presentation.
A flashy scoreboard began to detract from the practice by drawing attention away from instructions the group needed for the next activity.
Compare an alternative with the original word in each passage. Shared meanings do not make every pair interchangeable.
Synonym reference scope and sources
The groups distinguish the senses selected for this study entry. Closest synonyms and broader related expressions have separate labels. The listed sources support lexical selection; not every phrase is a direct quotation from a source.
How the synonym reference was prepared / WordNet 3.0 license