1
as in imprisonment
the state of being held in lawful custody
he's been in detention since the arrest
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in delay
an instance or period of being prevented from going about one's business
the detention at the airport security checkpoint was brief, but because he was running late, it caused him to miss his flight
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of detention
Some of those deportations occurred as a result of detainees deciding to abandon their ongoing immigration cases to put an end to their detention at the facility and its harsh conditions, which included being held in chain-link cages in tents with little protection from the elements.
—
Ben Wieder, Miami Herald, 15 Sep. 2025
Both sides have also carried out arbitrary detentions, with SAF interrogating and beating dozens of Christians in 2024 and 2025.
—Paul Tilsley, FOXNews.com, 14 Sep. 2025
Benitzhar remains in federal custody and is next scheduled to appear in district court Tuesday for a detention hearing.
—Jason Green, Mercury News, 13 Sep. 2025
International powers have repeatedly called for Machar’s release, warning his detention could tip the country back into civil war.
—CNN Money, 12 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for detention
Ben Wieder, Miami Herald, 15 Sep. 2025
Both sides have also carried out arbitrary detentions, with SAF interrogating and beating dozens of Christians in 2024 and 2025.
—Paul Tilsley, FOXNews.com, 14 Sep. 2025
Benitzhar remains in federal custody and is next scheduled to appear in district court Tuesday for a detention hearing.
—Jason Green, Mercury News, 13 Sep. 2025
International powers have repeatedly called for Machar’s release, warning his detention could tip the country back into civil war.
—CNN Money, 12 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for detention
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detention
Noun
-
Still grieving the death of his wife and the imprisonment of his son, Brandis binges on booze but possesses a sharp and intuitive mind, even if his family life is in disarray.—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
12 Sep. 2025
-
The two men care for each other amidst the squalid conditions of their imprisonment in 1970s Argentina.—
Maureen Lee Lenker,
Entertainment Weekly,
11 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Even in areas accustomed to heavier snowfalls, accumulations in this range can result in delays, collisions and road closures if not treated promptly.—
Theo Burman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Therefore, the resulting stock drops can be viewed as buying opportunities — so long as the delays don't turn into order cancellations.—
Jeff Marks,
CNBC,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
But my incarceration now, like my glorious delusion then, cannot quell that yearning for something more.—
Manuel Muñoz,
Literary Hub,
11 Sep. 2025
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The mix of short-term detainees and long-haul prisoners makes SeaTac a unique microcosm of the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP), where courtroom drama and the gritty realities of incarceration meet under one roof.—
Walter Pavlo,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
This agreement removes that barrier to equal access for passengers with disabilities and provides a mechanism to compensate those harmed by Uber's past wait time fee policy.—
Robert Alexander,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 Sep. 2025
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Still, Sigourney Weaver's killer heels are worth the wait.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
12 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Detention.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detention. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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