EN

Synonyms for detract

  • verb

Most common

diminish lessen disparage derogate

All synonyms

Verb

1. Diminish — to take credit or reputation from; to derogate; to defame or decry

diminish, disparage, derogate, lessen, elevate, decry, depreciate, discredit, malign, defame, vilify, bad-mouth, traduce, calumniate, asperse, degrade, denigrate, tarnish, sully, besmirch, blemish, reproach

Antonyms

promote, respect, glorify

All antonyms of detract →

Definitions

  1. v. 1

    To take credit or reputation from; to derogate; to defame or decry.

Related words

Word family
detraction detractor

Forms

Past participle
detracted
e.g. detracted → diminished, disparaged, derogated, lessened…

Example sentences

  • diminish This doesn't give him the right to diminish Muslims.
  • lessen We had to lessen the impact of the erratic supplies.
  • disparage We didn't mean to disparage our contenders.

Popularity over time

Word1850 → 2019Trend
detractfalling
diminishsteady
lessenfalling
disparagesteady
derogatesteady

Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.

By length

5 letters
sully2, decry2
6 letters
lessen2, malign2, defame2, vilify3
7 letters
elevate3, degrade2, tarnish2, blemish2, traduce, asperse
8 letters
diminish3, reproach2, besmirch, derogate
9 letters
discredit3, disparage3, denigrate3
10 letters
depreciate4, calumniate

The small number after each word is its number of syllables (sully2 = 2 syllables).