detract

to take away from value or attention

Roots

de-: down, away, reversal, reduction, or removal
tract / trah: draw, pull, handle, or manage

Other words with the tract / trah root

abstract: existing as an idea rather than a concrete thing
attract: to draw toward
distract: to draw attention away
extract: to draw or pull out
intractable: very hard to manage, solve, or control
protract: to lengthen or draw out
retract: to draw back or take back

Tract gives pulling or drawing. To detract is to pull value, force, or attention away from something.

One awkward sentence did not detract from the essay’s real strength.

Detract is small but powerful because it names subtraction from value. A flaw, joke, or distraction can pull the shine away from something good.

The pull-away image matters more than the loose synonym “criticize.” The main thing is still there, but some force is drawing attention or worth away from it.