as in to divert
to draw the attention or mind to something else
numerous typos in the text detract the reader's attention from the novel's intricate plot
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Recent Examples of detract
Some asserted that the commitment and costs of traveling and attending meetings paired with the limited compensation was detracting members of the public from running for office.
—
Luis Melecio-Zambrano, Mercury News, 19 Sep. 2025
And despite doubling the one-off charge paid by high-net-worth individuals on their foreign income to 200,000 euros ($233,000) in 2024, this has done little to detract demand for la dolce vita.
—Karen Gilchrist, CNBC, 5 Sep. 2025
Over time, the fabric will develop a subtle patina—that velvety sheen that actually adds character rather than detracts.
—Zoë Sessums, Architectural Digest, 4 Sep. 2025
For Loeffler, a 50-year-old father of three kids, those ever-expanding duties demanded too much time and detracted too much attention from the objects of his sports obsessions.
—Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for detract
Luis Melecio-Zambrano, Mercury News, 19 Sep. 2025
And despite doubling the one-off charge paid by high-net-worth individuals on their foreign income to 200,000 euros ($233,000) in 2024, this has done little to detract demand for la dolce vita.
—Karen Gilchrist, CNBC, 5 Sep. 2025
Over time, the fabric will develop a subtle patina—that velvety sheen that actually adds character rather than detracts.
—Zoë Sessums, Architectural Digest, 4 Sep. 2025
For Loeffler, a 50-year-old father of three kids, those ever-expanding duties demanded too much time and detracted too much attention from the objects of his sports obsessions.
—Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for detract
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detract
Verb
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Law enforcement officers had removed the mouth of the irrigation tube diverting water from a nearby creek, but all the piping remained.—
Rachel Becker,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Feb. 2026
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Endless overseas conflicts put American lives at risk, drain our resources and divert attention from domestic priorities.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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When 18 swans are in a perfectly straight line on the stage, just one dancer whose head is tilted a few degrees higher than the others will throw off the power of the image.—
David Lyman,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
5 Feb. 2026
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That threw off the Dolphins offense to the point, even now, offensive coordinator Dave Shula remembers not adjusting quickly enough.—
Dave Hyde,
Sun Sentinel,
5 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Detract.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detract. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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