detraction
- n a petty disparagement
- n the act of discrediting or detracting from someone's reputation (especially by slander)
let it be no detraction from his merits to say he is plainspoken
- By sprinkling grains of fact into a cheesecake of innuendo, detraction and plain smut, Confidential creates the illusion of reporting the "lowdown" on celebrities.
- No detraction of appreciation is intended of your fine color plates by pointing out that your descriptions were purely secular.
- This detraction may not be quite fair, because reductions in clerical personnel might have been achieved even though the Army and Navy had not been reduced.