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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Truckloads of cookies were unloaded Wednesday afternoon at the Shelly Ridge Service Center in Lafayette Hill, where thousands of boxes will be distributed to local Girl Scout troops ahead of sales beginning next week.—
Madeleine Wright,
CBS News,
7 Jan. 2026
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The annual fundraiser gives troops the opportunity to sell boxes for their troop and develop life skills like goal-setting, decision-making, money management and business ethics.—
Brayden Garcia,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
7 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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But Izzy Johnston is plotting a way for her Warriors to rise above all those squads.—
Kyle Newman,
Denver Post,
8 Jan. 2026
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The extra point the Sharks collected separated them from the Kings in the standings, with both squads in a wild-card spot.—
Andrew Knoll,
Daily News,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Russian Su-30 jets currently make up the majority of India’s 29 fighter squadrons, according to Reuters.—
Rhea Mogul,
CNN Money,
3 Dec. 2025
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Pilots are drawn from operational fighter squadrons and often have combat experience before joining the unit.—
Greg Wehner,
FOXNews.com,
3 Dec. 2025
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 18 Jan. 2026.
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