| Detraction 1. (n.) A taking away or withdrawing. 2. (n.) The act of taking away from the reputation or good name of another; a lessening or cheapening in the estimation of others; the act of depreciating another, from envy or malice; calumny. Thesaurus Entries aspersion, backbiting, backstabbing, belittlement, calumniation, calumny, character assassination, damage, defamation, depreciation, disparagement, harm, hurt, injury, injustice, libel, libeling, maligning, scandal, slander, sycophancy, tale, vilification, wrong |