You searched for: “detract”
detract, detracts, detracting, detracted (verb forms)
This entry is located in the following unit: tra-, tract-, trac-, -tractive, -traction, -tracting, treat-, trai- (page 3)
detract, distract
detract (di TRAKT) (verb)
To take or to draw away: The bill boards along the highway only detract people's attention from the natural scenery.
distract (dis TRAKT) (verb)
To draw the mind or attention away in another direction; to divert: The soft music helped to distract Raquel's mind from her worries.

The politician wanted to distract his constituents by sending out charming letters intended to detract their attention from his outlandish remarks to the media.

This entry is located in the following unit: Confusing Words Clarified: Group D; Homonyms, Homophones, Homographs, Synonyms, Polysemes, etc. + (page 4)