as in patrols
a small military unit with a special task or function
the general sent a detachment ahead to scout the enemy's position
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Recent Examples of detachments
The Israeli military has amassed two major groups of armored vehicles in Sheikh Radwan, to the north of Gaza City, according to the imagery, with additional detachments of armored vehicles stationed along roads that lead toward Israel.
—
CNN Money, 17 Sep. 2025
Although the much smaller Michino’o/Togitsu metal foundry detachments could not compete with the Ōhashi unit in terms of sheer noise and numbers, these girls were in high spirits this fine and yet‑too‑hot hot morning.
—Literary Hub, 7 Aug. 2025
CNN Money, 17 Sep. 2025
Although the much smaller Michino’o/Togitsu metal foundry detachments could not compete with the Ōhashi unit in terms of sheer noise and numbers, these girls were in high spirits this fine and yet‑too‑hot hot morning.
—Literary Hub, 7 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detachments
Noun
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The Kremlin insisted that to reach a peace deal, Kyiv must withdraw its troops from the areas in the east that Russia illegally annexed but never fully captured.—
KAMILA HRABCHUK,
Arkansas Online,
24 Jan. 2026
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His emergency order allows for 500 Georgia National Guard troops to be deployed as needed.—
Anusha Mathur,
NPR,
24 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Top-tier television used to entice movie stars with the promise of meaty roles and superlative writing; 2025 television enlists battalions of Oscar winners by waving around a script based on a mid-tier best seller and the prospect of a couple of months on location in Nantucket.—
Sophie Gilbert,
The Atlantic,
4 Dec. 2025
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Firefighters quickly called more engines and battalions as the blaze grew.—
Briauna Brown,
CBS News,
3 Dec. 2025
Noun
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With Lorch’s money and the church’s institutional clout behind the program, Riverside sent top teenage squads to tournaments both nationwide and internationally, including to Western Europe, the former Soviet Union, and the former Yugoslavia.—
Luke Cyphers,
Sportico.com,
20 Jan. 2026
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Familiar foe coming to Moody Center Now with Texas A&M (13-4, 3-1) rolling into town Saturday, the Longhorns — who are tied with six other teams at 2-2 in the SEC, one game behind five 3-1 squads — have suddenly become a tough out.—
Cedric Golden,
Austin American Statesman,
15 Jan. 2026
Noun
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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
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The aircraft carrier hosts multiple squadrons of aircraft, including F-35 Lightning II fighter jets and F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jets.—
Konstantin Toropin,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
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According to the Defense official, the Army plans to ramp up training over the next year, eventually sending in platoons of some 40 soldiers at a time to train.—
Anne Flaherty,
ABC News,
10 Nov. 2025
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The white officers in the 24 companies overseeing the volunteer platoons were also initially skeptical.—
Time,
Time,
5 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Detachments.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detachments. Accessed 27 Jan. 2026.
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