1
as in objectivity
lack of favoritism toward one side or another
the judge showed commendable detachment when deciding the controversial case
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in coldness
the absence of emotional involvement
his detachment allowed him a clearer perspective on the child custody case
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of detachment
Her face, usually settled into a general look of detachment, would take on deeply significant expressions, all revolving around a plea for forgiveness.
—
Andrea Bajani, New Yorker, 7 June 2026
This detachment is becoming detectable among young voters.
—David M. Drucker, Twin Cities, 3 June 2026
Stepping away from our usual routines in a different setting, far from our commitments and deadlines, can give us a sense of calm, detachment, and tranquility.
—Alessandra Signorelli, Vogue, 29 May 2026
The film’s unspeakably haunting final shot typifies Cannes 2026 to a tee, its free-floating detachment from reality doubling as a revelatory expression of our own relationship to it.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 22 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for detachment
Andrea Bajani, New Yorker, 7 June 2026
This detachment is becoming detectable among young voters.
—David M. Drucker, Twin Cities, 3 June 2026
Stepping away from our usual routines in a different setting, far from our commitments and deadlines, can give us a sense of calm, detachment, and tranquility.
—Alessandra Signorelli, Vogue, 29 May 2026
The film’s unspeakably haunting final shot typifies Cannes 2026 to a tee, its free-floating detachment from reality doubling as a revelatory expression of our own relationship to it.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 22 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for detachment
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detachment
Noun
-
Slot, as head coach, was more of a middle manager; someone who acted with the objectivity of a civil servant and the occasional bluntness of a corrections officer.—
Simon Hughes,
New York Times,
30 May 2026
-
This is a common mistake born from our natural lack of objectivity about ourselves, and those at the C-suite and board levels are not immune.—
Mary Elizabeth Bradford,
Forbes.com,
29 May 2026
Noun
-
Muniz-Spry was then placed uncuffed in a patrol vehicle while officers ran a record search.—
Zachary Fletcher,
USA Today,
17 June 2026
-
The patrol noted that road conditions were wet at the time.—
Anthony Bettin,
CBS News,
17 June 2026
Noun
-
Her fierce intelligence helps paper over some of the screenplay’s rougher transitions, and even lends a measure of legibility to Sylvia’s sudden coldness.—
Natalia Winkelman,
Variety,
16 June 2026
-
The bureaucratic coldness of Bolshevik Communism and the violent regressions of Fascism were yet worse.—
Alex Ross,
New Yorker,
15 June 2026
Noun
-
Cracks in the system Yet, foreign governments are starting to challenge Singapore’s neutrality.—
Angelica Ang,
Fortune,
19 June 2026
-
The money has been used to finance programs ranging from community air-quality work to affordable housing near transit, infrastructure upgrades and green transportation projects, helping move the county toward its goal of reaching carbon neutrality by 2045.—
Chaewon Chung,
Sacbee.com,
18 June 2026
Noun
-
John Leavell, battalion chief with the Spokane Valley Fire Department, was one of the first people to spot the fire.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 June 2026
-
But times were changing, and Fergie was among the Colored men assigned to what would become a fourth battalion in the third contingency of the British West Indies Regiment.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 June 2026
Noun
-
Eliot loved hearing Claire talk about people, her combination of warmth and dispassion.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
25 Nov. 2025
-
In the play’s most striking image, the dead sit in the Grover’s Corners graveyard in rows—rather like a theatre audience—watching the living with quiet dispassion.—
Helen Shaw,
The New Yorker,
17 Oct. 2024
Noun
-
India, an avatar of forceful neutralism early on, saw its influence diminished by regional conflict and domestic troubles.—
Erez Manela,
Foreign Affairs,
14 Dec. 2021
-
Globalizing impulses helped bring about a flourishing of neutralism.—
Leo Robson,
The New Yorker,
5 Dec. 2016
Noun
-
The squadron has been responsible for testing several bombers, including the B-1B, B-2A and the B-52 Stratofortress.—
Summer Lin,
Los Angeles Times,
17 June 2026
-
By 1989, Curry had become a squadron commander, responsible for law enforcement for the entire Hahn Air Base, which had about 10,000 people, in Germany.—
Clint Smith,
The Atlantic,
9 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Detachment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detachment. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
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