DETRACTION

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does detraction mean? 

• DETRACTION (noun)
  The noun DETRACTION has 2 senses:

1. a petty disparagement

2. the act of discrediting or detracting from someone's reputation (especially by slander)

  Familiarity information: DETRACTION used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• DETRACTION (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A petty disparagement

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

detraction; petty criticism

Hypernyms ("detraction" is a kind of...):

depreciation; derogation; disparagement (a communication that belittles somebody or something)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The act of discrediting or detracting from someone's reputation (especially by slander)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Context example:

let it be no detraction from his merits to say he is plainspoken

Hypernyms ("detraction" is a kind of...):

disparagement; dispraise (the act of speaking contemptuously of)

Derivation:

detract (take away a part from; diminish)