| Main Entry: | detract |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | take away a part; lessen |
Synonyms: |
backbite, belittle, blister, cheapen, cut rate, decrease, decry, depreciate, derogate, devaluate, diminish, discount, discredit, disesteem, draw away, knock*, laugh at, lower, minimize, misprize, reduce, subtract from, underrate, undervalue, vilipend, withdraw, write off |
Antonyms: |
add to, increase, optimize |
| Main Entry: | decry |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | criticize, blame |
Synonyms: |
abuse, asperse, bad-mouth, belittle, calumniate, censure, condemn, cry down, defame, denounce, depreciate, derogate, detract, devalue, diminish, discount, discredit, disgrace, disparage, do a number on, downgrade, dump on, hit*, knock*, lower, malign, mark down, minimize, opprobriate, pan, poor-mouth, put down, rail against, rap, reprehend, reprobate, run down, slam*, take away, take swipe at, throw stones at, traduce, underestimate, underrate, undervalue, vilify, write off |
Antonyms: |
applaud, compliment, exalt, laud, praise |
| Main Entry: | defame |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | inflict libel or slander |
Synonyms: |
asperse, bad-mouth, belie, besmirch, blacken, blister, calumniate, cast aspersions on, cast slur on, denigrate, detract, discredit, disgrace, dishonor, disparage, do a number on, knock, malign, pan, put zingers on, roast, scandalize, scorch, slam, smear, speak evil of, stigmatize, throw mud at, traduce, vilify, villainize, vituperate |
Antonyms: |
approve, commend, compliment, exalt, praise |
| Main Entry: | degrade |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | shame, humiliate |
Synonyms: |
abase, belittle, bemean, bench, break, bump, bust, canker, cast down, cheapen, corrupt, cut down to size, debase, debauch, declass, decry, degenerate, demean, demote, depose, deprave, derogate, deteriorate, detract, diminish, disbar, discredit, disgrace, dishonor, disparage, downgrade, humble, impair, injure, lessen, lower, mudsling, pan, pervert, put down, reduce, rule out, run down, shoot down, sink, slam, take down a peg, take down, tear down, vitiate, weaken |
Antonyms: |
admire, approve, elevate, honor, promote, upgrade |
| Main Entry: | demean |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | humble, humiliate |
Synonyms: |
abase, bad-mouth, belittle, bemean, cast down, contemn, cut down to size, cut rate, debase, decry, degrade, derogate, descend, despise, detract, dis, disparage, dump on, knock down, lower, pan, poor-mouth, scorn, sink, stoop |
Antonyms: |
boost, enhance, improve, upgrade |
| Main Entry: | deprecate |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | belittle, condemn |
Synonyms: |
cut down to size, depreciate, derogate, detract, disapprove of, discommend, discountenance, disesteem, disfavor, disparage, expostulate, frown, mudsling, not go for, object, pooh-pooh, poor mouth, protest against, put down*, rip*, run down, take dim view of, take down, take exception to |
Antonyms: |
approve, build up, commend, compliment, endorse, laud, praise |
| Main Entry: | depreciate |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | belittle, ridicule |
Synonyms: |
abuse, asperse, attack, calumniate, censure, clamor against, condemn, contemn, decry, defame, denigrate, denounce, deprecate, deride, derogate, detract, discount, discountenance, discredit, disgrace, disparage, dispraise, fault, find fault with, humble, knock, look down on, lower, malign, minimize, put down, rap, revile, roast, run down, scoff at, scorn, slam, slander, slight, slur, smear, sneer at, spurn, take down a peg, traduce, underestimate, underrate, undervalue, vilify |
Antonyms: |
approve, commend, compliment, exalt, laud, praise, recommend |
| Main Entry: | deride |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | make fun of; insult |
Synonyms: |
banter, chaff, contemn, detract, dis, disdain, disparage, do a number on, dump on, flout, gibe, jeer, jolly, kid, knock, laugh at, lout, mock, pan, pooh-pooh, put down*, quiz, rag, rally, razz, rib, ridicule, roast, scoff, scorn, slam, sneer, taunt, twit |
Antonyms: |
commend, compliment, flatter, praise, revere |
| Main Entry: | disapprove |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | condemn |
Synonyms: |
blame, censure, chastise, criticize, damn, decry, denounce, deplore, deprecate, detract, disallow, discommend, discountenance, disesteem, disfavor, dislike, dismiss, dispraise, expostulate, find fault with, find unacceptable, frown on, look askance at, look down on, nix, object to, oppose, pan, pass on, refuse, reject, remonstrate, reprehend, reprobate, reprove, set aside, slam, spurn, take dim view of, take exception to, turn down, veto, zing |
Antonyms: |
agree, approve, endorse, like, love, sanction |
| Main Entry: | distract |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | divert attention; confuse |
Synonyms: |
abstract, addle, agitate, amuse, befuddle, beguile, bewilder, call away, catch flies, confound, derange, detract, discompose, disconcert, disturb, divert, draw away, engross, entertain, fluster, frenzy, harass, lead astray, lead away, madden, mislead, mix up, occupy, perplex, puzzle, sidetrack, stall, throw off, torment, trouble, turn aside, unbalance, unhinge |
Antonyms: |
clarify, explain |