detracting

comparative more detracting · superlative most detracting

1. That detracts.

   Probably nothing is more detracting and dissatisfying than buying a potted flowering plant which quits flowering as soon as it is taken home.

   2012, Dattajirao K. Salunkhe, Narayana R. Bhat, Babasaheb B. Desai, Postharvest Biotechnology of Flowers and Ornamental Plants, page 150

   2 more examples

   Neither is there any thing in the condition of the laborer, more taxing to human exertion, more detracting from honorable self-respect, than any other occupation; on the contrary, agriculture, if we reason from realities, and not prejudices, is the truly noble occupation of life.

   1837, Benjamin Franklin Foster, Education Reform, page 81

   "In vino veritas," properly translated, means—that when a man is fairly under the influence of liquor, you see a strong manifestation of his real character. The vain man is vainer, the voluble, more voluble, the morose, more morose; the passionate, more passionate, the detractor, more detracting; the sycophant, more sycophantic, and so forth.

   1889, Samuel Warren, Ten Thousand A-year, volume 2, page 19

1. gerundparticiplepresentpresent participle and gerund of detract

plural detractings

1. detraction; slander

   Emulations, heart-risings, evil jealousies, bitter speakings, detractings, and abundance of evil fruit, arise from this root of bitterness […]

   1844, Charles Marshall, The Journal: Together with Sundry Epistles and Other Writings