as in delayed
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1
as in arrested
to take or keep (someone) in confinement by authority of law
Police detained the suspect.
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2
as in slowed
to keep (someone or something) from proceeding or progressing
She sent word that she had been unavoidably detained. The plane was detained for hours due to inclement weather.
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Recent Examples of detained
Sarah Stillman, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026
An average of about 63,000 people were detained each day in March, ICE reported, compared to about 72,000 in January.
—Julia Ingram, CBS News, 13 Apr. 2026
The Post reviewed more than a dozen habeas petitions filed in recent months by those immigrants detained in Colorado.
—Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 12 Apr. 2026
Griner last made an All-WNBA team in 2021 before missing the 2022 season while detained in Russia for nearly 10 months.
—Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 11 Apr. 2026
The shooter, a friend of Jones who is also 16, was detained, Fort Worth police said.
—Amy McDaniel, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Apr. 2026
Among those detained is human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh, taken by intelligence agents from her house in Tehran, said her daughter, Mehraveh Khandan, who lives in Amsterdam.
—Amir-Hussein Radjy, Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2026
At that time she was briefly detained and released on parole while her application was reviewed.
—Alicia Victoria Lozano, NBC news, 5 Apr. 2026
Since the rallies began, Turkey has detained more than 1,000 protesters.
—Kevin Sabet, Newsweek, 24 Mar. 2025
Verb
In early February, Elora Mukherjee, who runs one of the country’s leading immigrants’-rights clinics, at Columbia Law School, told me about a client of hers who was detained in South Texas.
—Sarah Stillman, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026
An average of about 63,000 people were detained each day in March, ICE reported, compared to about 72,000 in January.
—Julia Ingram, CBS News, 13 Apr. 2026
The Post reviewed more than a dozen habeas petitions filed in recent months by those immigrants detained in Colorado.
—Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 12 Apr. 2026
Griner last made an All-WNBA team in 2021 before missing the 2022 season while detained in Russia for nearly 10 months.
—Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 11 Apr. 2026
The shooter, a friend of Jones who is also 16, was detained, Fort Worth police said.
—Amy McDaniel, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Apr. 2026
Among those detained is human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh, taken by intelligence agents from her house in Tehran, said her daughter, Mehraveh Khandan, who lives in Amsterdam.
—Amir-Hussein Radjy, Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2026
At that time she was briefly detained and released on parole while her application was reviewed.
—Alicia Victoria Lozano, NBC news, 5 Apr. 2026
Since the rallies began, Turkey has detained more than 1,000 protesters.
—Kevin Sabet, Newsweek, 24 Mar. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detained
Adjective
-
Republicans narrowly control Congress and the agenda, but with the challenge of locking down enough of their own members after a delayed vote, Democratic votes will likely come into play — and the rare opportunity for leverage as the minority party.—
Lisa Hagen,
Hartford Courant,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Greece’s farming sector faces mounting strain, with weeks of protests triggered by delayed subsidy payments tied to the investigation.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
He gets arrested for shoplifting.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
12 Apr. 2026
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The Riverside County Sheriff's Office arrested two teens for allegedly killing a 16-year-old last year.—
Matthew Rodriguez,
CBS News,
12 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Yan was apprehended on the same date and has been detained since her arrest, according to court records.—
Staff Report,
Hartford Courant,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Jail records obtained by Monterey Bay area news station KSBW indicate that he was apprehended at Disney World.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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In fact, settling a debt for less than the full amount is a common outcome, particularly if the account has been delinquent for a long time.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Kenny Schachter, in a 2025 Artnet column, wrote that The Hole had been accused of being delinquent in paying artists.—
News Desk,
Artforum,
8 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Detained.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detained. Accessed 16 Apr. 2026.
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