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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as in delayed
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of detained
Kirsten Fiscus, Nashville Tennessean, 6 Oct. 2025
Anyone who has ever been detained or knows someone who has dreads the prospect, said Irvin Camacho, a longtime immigrant activist in Northwest Arkansas.
—Juan Cordoba, Arkansas Online, 5 Oct. 2025
At least two senior executives at Diriyah, the $63 billion real estate development in Riyadh, have been detained by Saudi Arabia’s anti-corruption watchdog, according to three people familiar with the matter.
—Matthew Martin, semafor.com, 5 Oct. 2025
Families of those still detained were eager for a deal to be struck.
—Richard Hall, Time, 5 Oct. 2025
The Florida family of a man who was recently was deported to Venezuela despite having TPS at the time said they were shocked by the ruling and afraid they could be detained and deported at any time.
—Syra Ortiz Blanes, Miami Herald, 4 Oct. 2025
Manuel Tique, a 32-year-old humanitarian worker, is among a growing number of foreign nationals detained by Nicolás Maduro's authoritarian government as Venezuela faces economic sanctions and political isolation from the United States and Europe.
—Manuel Rueda, NPR, 4 Oct. 2025
The suspect was detained and questioned on Monday, according to the Union County Prosecutor’s Office.
—Zoe Sottile, CNN Money, 4 Oct. 2025
By the terms, Israel would then free two hundred and fifty Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences and more than a thousand other Palestinians who have been detained, some for allegedly taking part in Hamas’s attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023.
—Ruth Margalit, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2025
Adjective
On the other end was Eric Church, the owner of Chief's, where Wallen was being detained for throwing a chair from the roof.
—Kirsten Fiscus, Nashville Tennessean, 6 Oct. 2025
Anyone who has ever been detained or knows someone who has dreads the prospect, said Irvin Camacho, a longtime immigrant activist in Northwest Arkansas.
—Juan Cordoba, Arkansas Online, 5 Oct. 2025
At least two senior executives at Diriyah, the $63 billion real estate development in Riyadh, have been detained by Saudi Arabia’s anti-corruption watchdog, according to three people familiar with the matter.
—Matthew Martin, semafor.com, 5 Oct. 2025
Families of those still detained were eager for a deal to be struck.
—Richard Hall, Time, 5 Oct. 2025
The Florida family of a man who was recently was deported to Venezuela despite having TPS at the time said they were shocked by the ruling and afraid they could be detained and deported at any time.
—Syra Ortiz Blanes, Miami Herald, 4 Oct. 2025
Manuel Tique, a 32-year-old humanitarian worker, is among a growing number of foreign nationals detained by Nicolás Maduro's authoritarian government as Venezuela faces economic sanctions and political isolation from the United States and Europe.
—Manuel Rueda, NPR, 4 Oct. 2025
The suspect was detained and questioned on Monday, according to the Union County Prosecutor’s Office.
—Zoe Sottile, CNN Money, 4 Oct. 2025
By the terms, Israel would then free two hundred and fifty Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences and more than a thousand other Palestinians who have been detained, some for allegedly taking part in Hamas’s attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023.
—Ruth Margalit, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detained
Verb
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He was arrested in November 1957 after the body of local hardware store owner and shopkeeper Bernice Worden, 58, was found hanging from hooks and mutilated in his shed.—
JR Radcliffe,
USA Today,
4 Oct. 2025
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Ongoing litigation In recent months, more than 400 Venezuelans with TPS have been arrested during ICE check-ins and traffic stops, even though the protections were supposed to be in place before Friday’s ruling.—
Syra Ortiz Blanes,
Miami Herald,
4 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The release of key economic reports would also likely be delayed, economists said.—
Greg Iacurci,
CNBC,
30 Sep. 2025
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Recently, the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) has also taken legal action against the Department of Education, alleging that the administration has unlawfully delayed or denied access to loan forgiveness programs, such as IDR and PSLF.—
Suzanne Blake,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
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In 2000, Tucker was apprehended and sentenced to 13 years in prison at the Federal Medical Center in Fort Worth.—
Brayden Garcia,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
3 Oct. 2025
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The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office apprehended and booked Thomas Brown, 31, in connection to the deaths.—
Julie Mendes,
AZCentral.com,
3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Foreclosure would become nonviable as a means of tax collection — with no readily apparent alternative means for timely collection of the delinquent revenue.—
Todd Spangler,
Freep.com,
3 Oct. 2025
-
The teen was found delinquent on a disorderly conduct charge and released to his family with a GPS monitor.—
Cameron Knight,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
1 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Detained.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detained. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.
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