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
Still, when my plane’s turn came, the takeoff was as exhilarating as ever—the low rumble and rising thrum, the smooth detachment and sudden lift, and then the surge through clouds into a piercing blue sky.
—
Burkhard Bilger, New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2026
Unlike Emma, who dated seldom and with a scientist’s detachment, Nat had a way of truly believing every time that at last, this one was true love.
—Literary Hub, 26 Feb. 2026
Her time away was filled not with detachment, but with deliberate healing.
—Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 24 Feb. 2026
Turner plays the middle brother with intriguing melancholy and an almost alien detachment, which works within the world this film creates, but not necessarily for a main character.
—David Opie, IndieWire, 15 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for detachment
Burkhard Bilger, New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2026
Unlike Emma, who dated seldom and with a scientist’s detachment, Nat had a way of truly believing every time that at last, this one was true love.
—Literary Hub, 26 Feb. 2026
Her time away was filled not with detachment, but with deliberate healing.
—Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 24 Feb. 2026
Turner plays the middle brother with intriguing melancholy and an almost alien detachment, which works within the world this film creates, but not necessarily for a main character.
—David Opie, IndieWire, 15 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for detachment
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detachment
Noun
-
But objectivity is the opposite of Hegseth’s intent.—
Jonathan Chait,
The Atlantic,
13 Mar. 2026
-
This acknowledgment of reader subjectivity is in the spirit of Sloan’s work, in contrast to the traditional critic’s standpoint of an objectivity that has never really existed, that often only serves to obscure whiteness, masculinity, and wealth.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Lewis said Munir is a patrol supervisor with the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office.—
Josh Davis,
Baltimore Sun,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Lifeguards on patrol discovered a 10-by-10-foot section of bluff had collapsed along Camino Del Mar near Del Mar’s Dog Beach, officials said.—
Karen Kucher,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
11 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Some of it has to do with the coldness of the skin.—
Stephanie Innes,
AZCentral.com,
5 Mar. 2026
-
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
Noun
-
American militia sought revenge for these raids, skeptical of Christian Indians’ claims of neutrality as the war ground on.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 Mar. 2026
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Because of that connection, Morley said courts could potentially apply the same neutrality principles to ballot language that affects congressional redistricting.—
Kaelan Deese,
The Washington Examiner,
11 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Some of them are regular reserve units, but some of them are specific reserve units called regional-defense battalions, and there are regional brigades in the West Bank that have regional-defense battalions under them, which are units made up mostly of settlers.—
Isaac Chotiner,
New Yorker,
14 Mar. 2026
-
Fire crews from Nampa and Middleton, along with two truck companies and two battalion chiefs, assisted in the response.—
Shannon Tyler,
Idaho Statesman,
14 Mar. 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 unit has up to 2,400 troops and its command vessel, the USS Tripoli, carries a squadron of F-35 fighters, V-22 Ospreys and helicopters.—
Skylar Woodhouse,
Fortune,
14 Mar. 2026
-
The United Kingdom will send four additional RAF Typhoon jets to reinforce its squadron in Qatar, deploy Wildcat helicopters with anti-drone capabilities to Cyprus and dispatch the Royal Navy destroyer HMS Dragon to the eastern Mediterranean.—
Nabih Bulos,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Detachment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detachment. Accessed 17 Mar. 2026.
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