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
Michael Rios, CNN Money, 22 Feb. 2026
Scheller, well-respected in Central Florida’s legal community, has been pulling together a team of attorneys willing to represent pro bono migrants detained locally.
—Cristóbal Reyes, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 Feb. 2026
In September, one of Kuramitsu’s parishioners — a Venezuelan asylum-seeker — was detained by immigration officials in the Little Village neighborhood and held for roughly six weeks in an ICE facility in northern Michigan, according to court records.
—Angie Leventis Lourgos, Chicago Tribune, 22 Feb. 2026
Three freelance journalists reporting on the deportations to Cameroon for the AP were briefly detained there.
—ABC News, 22 Feb. 2026
The suspect, identified as 37-year-old Richard Swann II, was later found and detained by authorities.
—Garrett Behanna, CBS News, 22 Feb. 2026
Daley and the passenger were subsequently detained.
—Michael Ruiz , Christina Dugan Ramirez , Adriana James-Rodil, FOXNews.com, 21 Feb. 2026
The GoFundMe page, set up by Torres Hidalgo's in-home teacher Valerie Wadycki, initially asked for funds to assist with Torres Maldonado's legal fees and to help the family while he was being detained.
—Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 16 Feb. 2026
Since the rallies began, Turkey has detained more than 1,000 protesters.
—Kevin Sabet, Newsweek, 24 Mar. 2025
Verb
The congresswoman said Rafael had been detained by ICE agents after a routine inspection while driving a commercial cargo truck in Louisiana.
—Michael Rios, CNN Money, 22 Feb. 2026
Scheller, well-respected in Central Florida’s legal community, has been pulling together a team of attorneys willing to represent pro bono migrants detained locally.
—Cristóbal Reyes, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 Feb. 2026
In September, one of Kuramitsu’s parishioners — a Venezuelan asylum-seeker — was detained by immigration officials in the Little Village neighborhood and held for roughly six weeks in an ICE facility in northern Michigan, according to court records.
—Angie Leventis Lourgos, Chicago Tribune, 22 Feb. 2026
Three freelance journalists reporting on the deportations to Cameroon for the AP were briefly detained there.
—ABC News, 22 Feb. 2026
The suspect, identified as 37-year-old Richard Swann II, was later found and detained by authorities.
—Garrett Behanna, CBS News, 22 Feb. 2026
Daley and the passenger were subsequently detained.
—Michael Ruiz , Christina Dugan Ramirez , Adriana James-Rodil, FOXNews.com, 21 Feb. 2026
The GoFundMe page, set up by Torres Hidalgo's in-home teacher Valerie Wadycki, initially asked for funds to assist with Torres Maldonado's legal fees and to help the family while he was being detained.
—Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 16 Feb. 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
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In a delayed broadcast of the event, edited and aired two hours later, BBC did not remove the slur.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
23 Feb. 2026
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The same happened on Artemis 1, a delayed but ultimately successful uncrewed mission to lunar orbit that flew in late 2022.—
Mike Wall,
Space.com,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Two people were arrested after refusing to stop and leading Fort Worth police on a pursuit on Saturday afternoon.—
Harriet Ramos,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
22 Feb. 2026
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Days ago, he was arrested and held in custody for nearly 11 hours on suspicion of misconduct in having shared confidential trade information with Epstein.—
Michael R. Sisak,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Feb. 2026
Verb
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No one has been apprehended in the Meridian incident.—
Statesman Staff,
Idaho Statesman,
22 Feb. 2026
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Larson was apprehended and arrested after a months-long investigation which tied him to the late night accident that killed 30-year old Anthony Williams of Hartford at the intersection of Farmington Avenue and Gillett Street in April 2023.—
Edmund H. Mahony,
Hartford Courant,
20 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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In Louisiana and Mississippi, the analysis found, nearly 40% of federal student loan borrowers with payments due are delinquent, the largest shares nationwide.—
Annie Nova,
CNBC,
20 Feb. 2026
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The buildings were shoved into receivership after the prior owner, an entity affiliated with Partner Group and Swift Realty Partners, became delinquent on a loan for the site.—
George Avalos,
Mercury News,
17 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Detained.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detained. Accessed 25 Feb. 2026.
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