1
as in arresting
to take or keep (someone) in confinement by authority of law
Police detained the suspect.
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in delaying
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.
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 detaining
Immigration advocates, attorneys and civil litigators are warning against the normalization of federal agents concealing their faces while detaining nonviolent students.
—
Emma Tucker, CNN Money, 8 Apr. 2025
Western supporters of Ukraine have frozen roughly $300 billion in Russian Central Bank assets, as well as seizing and detaining yachts owned by Russian citizens under sanctions.
—John W. Dean, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Apr. 2025
The push to find alternatives for detaining immigrants also comes as one of the four ICE detention facilities in Florida, Krome North Service Processing Center in Miami, deals with overcrowding issues.
—Ana Ceballos, Miami Herald, 4 Apr. 2025
The bill also establishes a $20 million fund to support smaller counties—those with fewer than 1 million residents—that enter such agreements by helping cover associated costs, including detaining individuals for potential immigration violations.
—Khaleda Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Apr. 2025
On Monday, Judge Summerville held ICE agent Brian Sullivan in contempt for allegedly obstructing justice by detaining the Dominican national before he could be given due process.
—Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2025
Boston's policy is codified in law under the Boston Trust Act, which stops police from detaining individuals solely based on their immigration status.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 4 Mar. 2025
In detaining the two individuals, Russia's security agency also seized a homemade explosive device and two fake Ukrainian passports, according to RBC Russia.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 28 Feb. 2025
There was a priority memo under the Biden administration that focused on finding, detaining, and deporting violent criminals.
—Rhett Buttle, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2025
Emma Tucker, CNN Money, 8 Apr. 2025
Western supporters of Ukraine have frozen roughly $300 billion in Russian Central Bank assets, as well as seizing and detaining yachts owned by Russian citizens under sanctions.
—John W. Dean, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Apr. 2025
The push to find alternatives for detaining immigrants also comes as one of the four ICE detention facilities in Florida, Krome North Service Processing Center in Miami, deals with overcrowding issues.
—Ana Ceballos, Miami Herald, 4 Apr. 2025
The bill also establishes a $20 million fund to support smaller counties—those with fewer than 1 million residents—that enter such agreements by helping cover associated costs, including detaining individuals for potential immigration violations.
—Khaleda Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Apr. 2025
On Monday, Judge Summerville held ICE agent Brian Sullivan in contempt for allegedly obstructing justice by detaining the Dominican national before he could be given due process.
—Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2025
Boston's policy is codified in law under the Boston Trust Act, which stops police from detaining individuals solely based on their immigration status.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 4 Mar. 2025
In detaining the two individuals, Russia's security agency also seized a homemade explosive device and two fake Ukrainian passports, according to RBC Russia.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 28 Feb. 2025
There was a priority memo under the Biden administration that focused on finding, detaining, and deporting violent criminals.
—Rhett Buttle, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Detaining.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detaining. Accessed 19 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share