1
as in detentions
the state of being held in lawful custody
keep him in detainer for at least 72 hours
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in appropriations
the unlawful taking or withholding of something from the rightful owner under a guise of authority
she filed an action for unlawful detainer of land after nonpayment of rent
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 detainers
At issue in the case was the Boston Trust Act, which prohibits Boston Police and other city departments from cooperating with ICE on civil immigration detainers.
—
Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 28 May 2026
Clifford said the program will streamline placing detainers on people already in custody at the jail.
—Chadd Cripe. Produced With Ai Assistance, Idaho Statesman, 26 May 2026
From July 2024 to June 2025, the NYPD received 3,672 requests for civil immigration detainers, up from just 99 detainer requests from the same time period a year prior.
—Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 22 May 2026
Garcia Martinez was processed for federal immigration law violations and transported to a detention facility with detainers to ensure extradition to New York after final adjudication of the immigration violations, CBP said.
—Jasmine Baehr, FOXNews.com, 8 May 2026
The sheriff’s department has to honor ICE detainers, under state law, or the county could be sued, Gore said.
—Alexandra Kukulka, Chicago Tribune, 27 Apr. 2026
Immigration detainers are requests for state or local law enforcement agencies to hold a person in criminal custody and to notify ICE before their release.
—Liz Teitz, San Antonio Express-News, 23 Apr. 2026
According to the lawsuit, Connecticut has honored less than 20% of the civil immigration detainers issued by the federal government since 2020.
—Emilia Otte, Hartford Courant, 14 Apr. 2026
Afterward, Moore issued three directives clarifying that state and local agencies may still cooperate with ICE on criminal matters and immigration detainers.
—Jeff Barker, Baltimore Sun, 13 Apr. 2026
Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 28 May 2026
Clifford said the program will streamline placing detainers on people already in custody at the jail.
—Chadd Cripe. Produced With Ai Assistance, Idaho Statesman, 26 May 2026
From July 2024 to June 2025, the NYPD received 3,672 requests for civil immigration detainers, up from just 99 detainer requests from the same time period a year prior.
—Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 22 May 2026
Garcia Martinez was processed for federal immigration law violations and transported to a detention facility with detainers to ensure extradition to New York after final adjudication of the immigration violations, CBP said.
—Jasmine Baehr, FOXNews.com, 8 May 2026
The sheriff’s department has to honor ICE detainers, under state law, or the county could be sued, Gore said.
—Alexandra Kukulka, Chicago Tribune, 27 Apr. 2026
Immigration detainers are requests for state or local law enforcement agencies to hold a person in criminal custody and to notify ICE before their release.
—Liz Teitz, San Antonio Express-News, 23 Apr. 2026
According to the lawsuit, Connecticut has honored less than 20% of the civil immigration detainers issued by the federal government since 2020.
—Emilia Otte, Hartford Courant, 14 Apr. 2026
Afterward, Moore issued three directives clarifying that state and local agencies may still cooperate with ICE on criminal matters and immigration detainers.
—Jeff Barker, Baltimore Sun, 13 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detainers
Noun
-
Amid the fear and acts of solidarity, the city announced a $100,000 emergency assistance fund to help households affected by the detentions pay rent and utility bills.—
Yuliana Montiel,
Charlotte Observer,
29 May 2026
-
More recently, Morello joined demonstrations outside Manhattan’s immigration court at 26 Federal Plaza alongside the organization Hands Off NYC, protesting ICE policies and detentions.—
SPIN Staff,
SPIN,
29 May 2026
Noun
-
The appropriations bill signed into law in January 2026 retained the research office, funded NOAA at roughly $6 billion and directed the agency not to close its laboratories.—
Ingmar Rentzhog,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2026
-
The Treasury Department insisted no taxpayer dollars will be used to produce the new bill, noting Bureau of Engraving and Printing finances its operations entirely through product sales and billings rather than relying on annual congressional appropriations.—
Rachel Scott,
ABC News,
28 May 2026
Noun
-
Once a technically complicated legal rarity used to challenge improper incarcerations, habeas corpus petitions have become the predominant avenue for immigrants seeking release from detentions that increasingly end only with a deportation order.—
Seth Klamann,
Denver Post,
12 Apr. 2026
-
Despite their felony convictions and impending incarcerations, both former Met police career criminals continue to collect their monthly kisses in the mail — $8,850 a month for Cederquist and $6,020 for Butner.—
Howie Carr,
Boston Herald,
4 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Overall, the operation netted 1,139 arrests, 984 firearm seizures, and 615 criminal indictments, according to an FBI document reviewed by Fox News Digital.—
Louis Casiano,
FOXNews.com,
1 June 2026
-
If a fetus becomes infected, toxoplasmosis can lead to a range of health problems, including premature birth, low birth weight, jaundice or other liver problems, abnormal blood counts, rashes, eye disease, developmental delays, seizures, brain calcification, and in extreme cases, stillbirth.—
Dr. Megan Yanny,
Boston Herald,
31 May 2026
Noun
-
Darling pointed to recent high profile imprisonments of Baha’i cousins Peyvand Naimi and Borna Naimi, who have undergone torture to force confessions and face possible death sentences.—
Etan Vlessing,
HollywoodReporter,
1 May 2026
-
In Acts, the disciple Paul endures several imprisonments, turning to God for strength and divine intervention.—
Emiliano Tahui Gómez,
Austin American Statesman,
17 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
In addition, Abrams said, teen takeovers swell up fast because many teenagers just have no place else to go.—
Corky Siemaszko,
NBC news,
28 May 2026
-
Private equity funds are equally hungry for beauty brand takeovers, with Advent International acquiring bodycare brand Salt & Stone for an undisclosed sum.—
Clara Ludmir,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
Noun
-
But county commissioners voted in February to put a moratorium on annexations and incorporations for at least five years to give the county time to assess the fiscal impact of future annexation and incorporations.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
6 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Detainers.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detainers. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
