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
Relevance
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of detachment
The cold grifter, on the other hand, is usually motivated by sociopathy or emotional detachment.
—
Literary Hub, 23 Jan. 2026
Then ringleader Sunniva Lindgård, who took the alias from an old SoundCloud handle, shed her counterparts (and some of the frosty detachment) and went solo.
—Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 22 Jan. 2026
The big faux pas of exclusivity and detachment that over-the-shoulder knits once represented has become one of the leading styling tricks dominating street style everywhere.
—Alejandro Badia, Footwear News, 20 Jan. 2026
The death of the activist Renee Nicole Good at the hands of an immigration agent has been justified on the right in a fashionable tone of detachment.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 20 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for detachment
Literary Hub, 23 Jan. 2026
Then ringleader Sunniva Lindgård, who took the alias from an old SoundCloud handle, shed her counterparts (and some of the frosty detachment) and went solo.
—Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 22 Jan. 2026
The big faux pas of exclusivity and detachment that over-the-shoulder knits once represented has become one of the leading styling tricks dominating street style everywhere.
—Alejandro Badia, Footwear News, 20 Jan. 2026
The death of the activist Renee Nicole Good at the hands of an immigration agent has been justified on the right in a fashionable tone of detachment.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 20 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for detachment
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detachment
Noun
-
Because History is best interpreted by those with the distance to maintain a semblance of objectivity.—
Frank Racioppi,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Just walk away today and come back when feelings settle and objectivity returns.—
Tribune Content Agency,
Baltimore Sun,
23 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The aircraft can support border patrol, maritime surveillance, and communications relay missions.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
4 Feb. 2026
-
The clerk’s office, long buried in paper, historically relied on a wholly manual process where officers that wrote drivers up on patrol would take a batch of handwritten tickets back to the station and mail it to the clerk’s office.—
A.D. Quig,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Large roof windows maximize natural light, and the interior decor makes use of coated plywood and glass to offset the coldness of the concrete.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
12 Dec. 2025
-
However, colors can also pull out negative emotions in people, such as defiance (red), coldness (blue), fear (yellow), and boredom (green).—
Daniel Fusch,
Ascend Agency,
11 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Under political and donor duress, some schools have adopted statements promising institutional neutrality on issues of the day — even those about which administrators, faculty and students may be most vocal.—
Richard K. Vedder,
The Orlando Sentinel,
1 Feb. 2026
-
The International Olympic Committee noted that all athletes have the ability to express their views — including at press conferences and on the field of play before the competition — but that there are restrictions in place to maintain the neutrality of the Games overall.—
Doha Madani,
NBC news,
1 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Tiramisu’s beloved battalion of flavors—milky mascarpone, booze, coffee, and chocolate—fit together perfectly in this wobbly, no-bake dessert mash-up.—
Jesse Szewczyk,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
28 Jan. 2026
-
The battalion played a significant role in early San Diego history.—
Abby Hamblin,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
28 Jan. 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 carrier strike group brings USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier, with its squadrons of fighter jets and three escort destroyers.—
Margaret Brennan,
CBS News,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Local squadrons had to arrest a certain number of citizens so they could be designated enemies of the people.—
M. Gessen,
Mercury News,
27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Detachment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detachment. Accessed 5 Feb. 2026.
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