detachment

Definition of detachmentnext
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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

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of detachment Annaka Harris explores what happens when […] Stoicism has been flattened into slogans about toughness, detachment, and emotional silence, a version that’s easy to sell, but mostly wrong. Big Think, 29 Jan. 2026 The coach who turned detachment into a competitive advantage is now the one waiting for the call, proof that in football, no one is entirely immune to the snub. Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 28 Jan. 2026 Gildenman was given his own detachment to command, which became known as Uncle Misha’s Jewish Group. Liz Rothaus Bertrand, Charlotte Observer, 27 Jan. 2026 The cold grifter, on the other hand, is usually motivated by sociopathy or emotional detachment. Literary Hub, 23 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for detachment
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detachment
Noun
  • Nurrenbern’s opposition stemmed from community activists, who questioned Hall’s objectivity and willingness to hold officers accountable for misconduct.
    Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 5 Feb. 2026
  • The standards emphasize objectivity, independence from political influence, and rigorous articulation of uncertainty.
    Brian O'Neill, The Conversation, 5 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Because the crash happened not far from one of the department’s precincts, officers on routine patrol were able to get to the scene almost immediately, Chatham County police said.
    Saleen Martin, USA Today, 18 Feb. 2026
  • Tuesday night, the deputy was responding to a call for service when a tree fell onto the patrol vehicle.
    Cecilio Padilla, CBS News, 18 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Makio’s relationship with Shingo is rich and complicated, revealing new vulnerabilities in a character whose initially somewhat off-putting in her coldness.
    Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 20 Feb. 2026
  • Ideal snowmaking conditions today require a dewpoint temperature – the combination of coldness and humidity – of around 28 F (-2 C) or less.
    Sunshine Swetnam, The Conversation, 3 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • And neutrality breeds complacency.
    Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 21 Feb. 2026
  • Whatever their personal relationship with GLP-1s, midsize creators seem confident that this space will remain relevant, thanks to its realism and its core value—body neutrality, which takes the focus off appearance and instead respects the body for its functionality.
    Petra Guglielmetti, Glamour, 20 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Gracynn Campbell, Fairview High A junior cadet major, Gracynn is the commander of the Yellow Jacket battalion, the honor guard commander and has given more than 200 volunteer hours to her community.
    Andy Humbles, Nashville Tennessean, 20 Feb. 2026
  • The historical film is about the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, known as the Six Triple Eight, an all-Black, all-female battalion that was deployed to Europe during World War II.
    Abby Hamblin, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Feb. 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
  • India already operates two squadrons of Rafale fighter jets and last year signed a deal to purchase 26 marine variants of the stealth fighter for the navy.
    ABC News, ABC News, 17 Feb. 2026
  • Both squadrons stare each other down on horseback, in full armor and weaponry — looking like bonafide badasses of the Game of Thrones universe.
    Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Detachment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detachment. Accessed 25 Feb. 2026.

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