1
as in objectivity
lack of favoritism toward one side or another
the judge showed commendable detachment when deciding the controversial case
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2
as in patrol
a small military unit with a special task or function
the general sent a detachment ahead to scout the enemy's position
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3
as in coldness
the absence of emotional involvement
his detachment allowed him a clearer perspective on the child custody case
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Examples of detachment in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
For realists, isolationism properly reflected and reinforced geographic insulation and strategic detachment.
—
Charles Kupchan, Foreign Affairs, 9 Sep. 2024
The camaraderie that once flourished in office spaces has given way to a sense of detachment.
—Benjamin Laker, Forbes, 9 Oct. 2024
With increasing agitation, Estela relates the family’s dark dramas and her own mounting feelings of detachment, creating an outsider’s portrait of bourgeois unravelling, deftly entwined with reflections on class and oppression.
—The New Yorker, 7 Oct. 2024
But this is the lesson of Libra love — that beauty is best served with compassionate detachment.
—Goth Shakira, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for detachment 
Charles Kupchan, Foreign Affairs, 9 Sep. 2024
The camaraderie that once flourished in office spaces has given way to a sense of detachment.
—Benjamin Laker, Forbes, 9 Oct. 2024
With increasing agitation, Estela relates the family’s dark dramas and her own mounting feelings of detachment, creating an outsider’s portrait of bourgeois unravelling, deftly entwined with reflections on class and oppression.
—The New Yorker, 7 Oct. 2024
But this is the lesson of Libra love — that beauty is best served with compassionate detachment.
—Goth Shakira, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for detachment
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'detachment.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Detachment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detachment. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.
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