detachments

noun

plural of detachment
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detachments
  1. troops
  2. battalions
  3. squads
  4. squadrons
  5. platoons
Noun
  • North Korea has expanded cooperation with Russia in recent years by supplying troops and ammunition to support its war against Ukraine in return for economic and military assistance.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 13 Aug. 2026
  • The participating troops hailed from the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team of the 1st Cavalry Division, which typically operates armored vehicles, like M1A2 tanks and Bradley infantry fighting vehicles.
    — Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of troops
Noun
  • The Israeli army built another five battalions of soldiers who were never engaged in service or finished their service and wish to return to duty.
    — Benjamin Weinthal, FOXNews.com, 6 July 2026
  • These religious sites and sacred areas throughout Ukraine have not been used by the Ukrainian Armed Forces or Ukrainian volunteer battalions as staging grounds to fight against Russian forces.
    — Mark Temnycky, Forbes.com, 25 June 2026
Definition of battalions
Noun
  • Both sides rotated halfway through, giving two ‘starting XIs’ 60 minutes of game-time each, balancing the load out equally across their squads.
    — George Edwards, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Last year the Dolphins found Cole Strange and Greg Dulcich on the other team’s practice squads.
    — Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of squads
Noun
  • The initial test drop, which employed BDU-56 practice bombers, highlighted how front-line squadrons could employ the Eagle II to carry heavy, next-generation munitions.
    — Peter Suciu, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
  • The base is home to 40 commands, which include 13 logistics squadrons that accrue over 40,000 hours of flight time each year.
    — Maven Navarro, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 July 2026
Definition of squadrons
Noun
  • The Phillies will run outfield platoons in left and center for the remainder of the season.
    — Matt Gelb, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Multiple schools across three states will soon have their own veritable platoons of pepper-spraying drones to hunt down active shooters, The Washington Post reports, waiting to spring into action the moment they’re called on.
    — Frank Landymore, Futurism, 30 July 2026
Definition of platoons

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detachments
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Cite this Entry

“Detachments.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detachments. Accessed 18 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on detachments

Nglish: Translation of detachments for Spanish Speakers

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