DETAINEE Synonyms: 40 Similar and Opposite Words

detainee

noun

Definition of detainee

as in defendant

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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 detainee On the Supreme Court, Kavanaugh was part of the 7-2 majority that in 2022 ruled against a Guantanamo Bay detainee who had been tortured by the CIA abroad and sought information about his treatment. — Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2026 New publications include a maximalist thriller set in Jamaica, another entry from horror phenom Tananarive Due, and a memoir from former ICE detainee Mahmoud Khalil. — Theara Coleman, TheWeek, 4 Sep. 2026 The waits have been particularly long in parts of Mississippi and Louisiana, where federal judges have usually taken three months or more to decide whether a detainee should be released. — Carla Astudillo, ProPublica, 3 Sep. 2026 Rynn directed questions about whether a detainee had been admitted to the hospital to ICE. — Laura Tillman, Hartford Courant, 31 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for detainee

Recent Examples of Synonyms for detainee

Noun

While those companies are not named in the Boulder case, they are named as defendants in similar climate lawsuits filed across the country, suits that very likely would be affected by the high court’s ruling.

— Callie Patteson, The Washington Examiner, 1 Oct. 2026
Germany's Constitutional Court ruled last year that the extradition was unlawful because it could not be guaranteed that the defendant would not be subject to inhumane or degrading treatment in Hungarian custody.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of defendant

Noun

In Palatine, after a police officer helped agents physically restrain an arrestee in front of an angry crowd, his department said the cop’s actions were a necessary response to deescalate a tense situation.

— Caroline Kubzansky, Chicago Tribune, 11 Sep. 2026
Throughout this process, every arrestee is presumed innocent — and because of that, First Appearance is not about punishment, despite some misconceptions.

— Corey B. Friedman, Sun Sentinel, 9 Aug. 2026

Definition of arrestee

Noun

The law would extend the time that repeat DUI offenders would have their driver’s license suspended from three years to six years.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026
More often than not, this audit finds the larger offenders causing the retention problem.

— Kellie Lauth, Forbes.com, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of offender

Noun

Cleburne police have filed additional charges in connection with an August pursuit that ended with an officer wounded and a suspect killed, officials said Saturday.

— Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Sep. 2026
Police had not released information about a suspect as of that time.

— Corey Schmidt, Sacbee.com, 27 Sep. 2026

Definition of suspect

Noun

Now a charming village, with its traditional church with prominent spire overlooking the town and the old clock tower converted into a wonderful mussel and fish restaurant.

— Natasha Langan, TheWeek, 29 Sep. 2026
The transition from tadpole to juvenile frog is never easy — legs sprout, tails shrink and lungs develop for a life on land, all while being hunted by fish and other predators.

— ABC News, ABC News, 29 Sep. 2026

Definition of fish

Noun

Removing violent criminals, gang members, cartel members and those who refuse to work is wise and popular policy.

— Don Bacon, Washington Post, 25 Sep. 2026
Americans have demonized us as criminals, buffoons, lechers, invaders, criminals and job stealers since the fall of the Alamo.

— Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of criminal

Browse Nearby Words

detained

detainee

detainees

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Style

“Detainee.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detainee. Accessed 1 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of detainee

noun

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