1
as in arresting
to take or keep (someone) in confinement by authority of law
Police detained the suspect.
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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.
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Recent Examples of detaining
Authorities are giving an update on the search for Charlie Kirk’s assassin after detaining a suspect.
—
Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025
The Puerto Rico native has been vocal about ICE over the past few months, sharing footage of an ICE arrest on social media in June that appeared to show agents detaining people in the street.
—Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 10 Sep. 2025
The clip showed police officers arriving and detaining her.
—Julia Moore, People.com, 10 Sep. 2025
But according to her husband, who didn’t want to give his full name – the agents refused to take his documents into account before detaining him.
—Gustavo Valdés, CNN Money, 8 Sep. 2025
The lawsuit accuses Webster of violating her federal constitutional rights through use of excessive force, cruel and unusual punishment and deprivation of due process by unlawfully detaining and sodomizing her.
—Olivia Lloyd, Miami Herald, 5 Sep. 2025
The incident came after the aide saw federal agents detaining migrants outside a courtroom in the same building as Nadler's office.
—Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2025
Ohio law does not directly address the issue of detaining people with immigration violations, but state law does not prohibit that detention, either, Yost wrote.
—Victoria Moorwood, The Enquirer, 30 Aug. 2025
Videos recorded by Diaz and posted to social media appeared to show Border Patrol agents detaining two crew members.
—Janhvi Bhojwani, NBC news, 29 Aug. 2025
Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025
The Puerto Rico native has been vocal about ICE over the past few months, sharing footage of an ICE arrest on social media in June that appeared to show agents detaining people in the street.
—Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 10 Sep. 2025
The clip showed police officers arriving and detaining her.
—Julia Moore, People.com, 10 Sep. 2025
But according to her husband, who didn’t want to give his full name – the agents refused to take his documents into account before detaining him.
—Gustavo Valdés, CNN Money, 8 Sep. 2025
The lawsuit accuses Webster of violating her federal constitutional rights through use of excessive force, cruel and unusual punishment and deprivation of due process by unlawfully detaining and sodomizing her.
—Olivia Lloyd, Miami Herald, 5 Sep. 2025
The incident came after the aide saw federal agents detaining migrants outside a courtroom in the same building as Nadler's office.
—Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2025
Ohio law does not directly address the issue of detaining people with immigration violations, but state law does not prohibit that detention, either, Yost wrote.
—Victoria Moorwood, The Enquirer, 30 Aug. 2025
Videos recorded by Diaz and posted to social media appeared to show Border Patrol agents detaining two crew members.
—Janhvi Bhojwani, NBC news, 29 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detaining
Verb
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Climate change has reduced its size dramatically, to a ghost of its former self, but the surrounding mountains are still arresting.—
Thomas Page McBee,
Travel + Leisure,
16 Sep. 2025
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The plaintiffs later accused the department of violating the order by hitting journalists with batons and arresting them during an August protest.—
BrieAnna J. Frank,
USA Today,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The long-term effect is a generation carrying debt, stuck in low-wage jobs, and delaying milestones like homeownership or starting families.—
Suzanne Blake,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Sep. 2025
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Flush-fit door handles fail far more often during side impacts than regular handles, delaying egress or rescue time after a crash.—
Jonathan M. Gitlin,
ArsTechnica,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
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But also on board the ship that night is this detective who is charged with apprehending Providence.—
Olivia Petty,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
12 Sep. 2025
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The immediate priority for law enforcement is locating and apprehending the suspect who should be considered armed and dangerous.—
Adeola Adeosun,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
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But many of the best-in-class companies are seizing on the chance to innovate and evolve.—
Shefali Kapadia,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
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Since seizing effective control over the area after a 2012 standoff with the Philippines, China's coast guard has sought to keep local anglers away from the traditional fishing ground.—
Micah McCartney,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Detaining.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detaining. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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