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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of detachments
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
Literary Hub, 7 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detachments
Noun
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The parade displayed large numbers of Chinese troops and military equipment, ranging from tanks and drones to long-range and nuclear ballistic missiles.—
David Zimmermann,
The Washington Examiner,
3 Sep. 2025
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At the time of the trial, troops were providing security during raids on marijuana farms outside Los Angeles.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
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That would imply three missile-firing battalions and six to nine nuclear-capable ICBMs, such as the Hwasong-15 or Hwasong-18.—
Micah McCartney,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Aug. 2025
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While the arc of Agu’s transformation is tragic and the story of the civil war and its battalions of child soldiers is wide in scope, the power of the novel lies in its immersion.—
Katie Kitamura
August 21,
Literary Hub,
21 Aug. 2025
Noun
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The overwhelming pattern is that what China showcases at Tiananmen becomes reality in squadrons, brigades, and fleets.—
Amir Husain,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
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Its aviation force consists of nine squadrons of fourth- and fifth-generation aircraft, the latter referring to F-35C stealth fighter jets.—
Ryan Chan,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 Aug. 2025
Noun
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The squads would play each other in 12-minute quarter games, according to ESPN.—
Jenna West,
New York Times,
4 Sep. 2025
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In addition to Miami and Chicago, there are squads representing Dallas, Los Angeles, Boston, Detroit, Houston, and the Delaware-Maryland-Virginia (DMV) region.—
Matthew Couden,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Trump’s grandiose displays of brute force—the massing of weapons of war and platoons of masked, unidentified combat fighters targeting the very civilian populations they are commissioned to protect—does not bring reassurance.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
25 Aug. 2025
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Russian assault platoons are rushing behind ukrainian lines.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
11 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Detachments.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detachments. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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