De·tract v. t. [imp. & p. p. Detracted; p. pr. & vb. n. Detracting.]
1. To take away; to withdraw.
Detract much from the view of the without. --Sir H. Wotton.
2. To take credit or reputation from; to defame.
That calumnious critic . . .
Detracting what laboriously we do. --Drayton.
Syn: -- To derogate; decry; disparage; depreciate; asperse; vilify; defame; traduce. See Decry.