as in distracting
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 detracting
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
Luis Melecio-Zambrano, Mercury News, 19 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detracting
Verb
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There is a difference, lawmakers said, between keeping the Zoom call on a phone on a passenger seat versus directly watching the Zoom meeting in a way that is distracting.—
Christopher Keating,
Hartford Courant,
17 Mar. 2026
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State officials argued that street art designs are distracting and can pose a safety risk.—
Susannah Bryan,
Sun Sentinel,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
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That pesky point-of-attack defense is diverting drivers from the basket.—
Fred Katz,
New York Times,
13 Mar. 2026
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Saudi Arabia is diverting tankers to its southern Red Sea coast, while Oman’s key export terminal was evacuated over safety concerns, disrupting exports, and two tankers were hit in Iraqi waters.—
Tom Chivers,
semafor.com,
12 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Detracting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detracting. Accessed 18 Mar. 2026.
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