as in distracts
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 detracts
If the expansion detracts somehow from the SARA cult fever, the co-owners are OK with that.
—
Senior Wine Critic, San Francisco Chronicle, 15 June 2017
Senior Wine Critic, San Francisco Chronicle, 15 June 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detracts
Verb
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That is when Harbaugh will be able to crystallize for players like Cam Skattebo that football is the priority, and any outside nonsense that distracts from the goal of winning games is not going to be tolerated anymore.—
Pat Leonard,
New York Daily News,
23 Mar. 2026
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Reading chairs can become hotspots for clutter, which distracts from rest.—
Shagun Khare,
The Spruce,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Streaming fraud diverts funds from musicians and songwriters whose songs were legitimately streamed by real listeners to those who use automation to falsely create the appearance of legitimate streaming.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
20 Mar. 2026
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Energy infrastructure under attack threatens global supplies as shipping diverts from critical trade routes, potentially sparking economic shocks worldwide and reshaping energy markets.—
Julia Frankel,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Detracts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detracts. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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