DETRACT

from [phrasal verb] [T] - to make (something) seem less valuable or less deserving of admiration, or to take awayShe wears so much make-up that I think it actually detracts from her prettiness.I don't want to detract (at all/one bit) from his achievements, but having a famous father did undoubtedly help his career.These tax-cutting measures are designed to detract (= take away) public attention from the government's past economic failures.