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
His career spanned roles as Naval Security Group detachments in Japan and San Diego.
—
Julie Gallant, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 May 2026
Additional police resources were deployed to the area from neighboring detachments, along with the North District Emergency Response Team.
—Alexandra Koch , Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 11 Feb. 2026
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
Julie Gallant, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 May 2026
Additional police resources were deployed to the area from neighboring detachments, along with the North District Emergency Response Team.
—Alexandra Koch , Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 11 Feb. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detachments
Noun
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The knock-on effect is a shortage of fuel and munitions for Russian frontline troops in southern Ukraine, further disrupting Russian President Vladimir Putin’s wartime goals.—
Gianluca Mezzofiore,
CNN Money,
20 June 2026
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The troops are ready for war At the end of Season 2, Westeros is on the verge of battle.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
20 June 2026
Noun
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Some civilians joined volunteer battalions or were drafted to join the military, while others contributed in different ways, from intelligence gathering and crowd-sourcing funding to food and medical distribution networks and critical infrastructure repair.—
Elizabeth Shackelford,
Chicago Tribune,
12 June 2026
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In the letter read out to lawmakers of the Central African country on Monday, Chadian President Mahamat Déby Itno said two battalions of 750 troops each will be deployed from this month for one year, following a request by the United Nations.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
21 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Hughton earned 59 caps for Ireland and was in their squads that qualified for major international tournaments for the first time (the 1988 European Championship and World Cup two years later).—
Simon Hughes,
New York Times,
17 June 2026
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While legendary forwards Luis Suárez and Edinson Cavani are no longer part of the national team setup, Uruguay remains one of the most talented squads in the Americas.—
Sergio Candido,
CBS News,
15 June 2026
Noun
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The Corps is also in the process of retiring its legacy F/A-18 Hornet fleet, with all remaining operational squadrons slated for complete deactivation by 2030.—
Peter Suciu,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
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Air Force reserve pilots were summoned to fighter squadrons at the Homestead Air Reserve Base, The Herald learned.—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
20 May 2026
Noun
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In the coming years, as Erik Neander took over the baseball operations department, the Rays were at the forefront of analytics with defensive shifts, aggressive platoons, utilizing openers, creating a menagerie of arm slots in the bullpen and, yes, prioritizing exit velocity.—
John Romano,
The Orlando Sentinel,
22 May 2026
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Outfield requires far more starting spots, and most of those available later in drafts are locked in platoons.—
Dalton Del Don,
New York Times,
6 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Detachments.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detachments. Accessed 23 Jun. 2026.
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