Synonyms of detaining

detaining

verb

present participle of detain

1

as in arresting

to take or keep (someone) in confinement by authority of law

Police detained the suspect.

Related Words

• arresting
• apprehending
• seizing
• restraining
• jailing
• imprisoning
• incarcerating
• confining
• restricting
• limiting
• pinching
• nicking
• committing
• shutting
• capturing
• holding
• nabbing
• constraining
• nailing
• running in
• grabbing
• pulling in
• collaring
• locking (up)
• snatching
• busting
• interning
• trapping
• barring
• picking up
• handcuffing
• gating
• snaring
• jugging
• catching
• bagging
• grappling
• hooking
• immuring
• snapping (up)
• binding
• landing
• remanding
• shackling
• fettering
• getting
• enchaining
• manacling
• trammeling
• rearresting

Dissimilar Words

• releasing
• freeing
• springing
• loosening
• emancipating
• liberating
• loosing
• discharging
• unchaining
• unbinding

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.

Related Words

• delaying
• slowing
• blocking
• hindering
• retarding
• keeping
• impeding
• obstructing
• suspending
• blockading
• snagging
• stalling
• stemming
• extending
• pausing
• halting
• hesitating
• holding
• prolonging
• balking
• lengthening
• clogging
• deferring
• baffling
• holding back
• holding up
• setting back
• damming
• stretching (out)
• arresting
• terminating
• protracting
• repressing
• remitting
• holding over
• bottlenecking
• shelving
• concluding
• ending
• discontinuing
• cutting off
• holding off (on)
• suppressing
• stopping
• putting over
• putting off
• checking
• staying
• squashing
• stunting
• turning back
• laying over
• squelching
• stilling
• calling
• catching
• reining (in)
• pulling up
• bringing up
• stanching
• drawing up
• choking off
• fetching up

Dissimilar Words

• continuing
• persisting
• keeping (on)
• carrying on
• proceeding
• moving
• advancing
• keeping up
• running on
• marching
• progressing
• pushing
• stirring
• driving
• going along
• actuating
• following through (with)
• propelling
• spurring
• faring
• impelling
• wending
• goading
• budging

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of detaining

Federal agents were still detaining undocumented immigrants across the state, and Latino residents — the state’s largest ethnic group at 41% — were suffering under the crushing cost of food, gas and housing. — Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2026

Police initially arrested two suspects before detaining three more on Sunday near Potchefstroom, about 120 kilometers (74 miles) west-southwest of Johannesburg. — ABC News, 2 Nov. 2026

In some cases, immigration officials are detaining kids after they have been placed with sponsors and are already living in their communities. — CBS News, 2 Nov. 2026

NorCal Resist alleges that on Tuesday morning Sacramento police officers conducted a traffic stop on lawful observers of ICE enforcement in south Sacramento, detaining them for 20 minutes. — Jennah Pendleton, Sacbee.com, 28 Oct. 2026

As bystanders rushed to her aid, a local barber pulled the driver from the car, detaining him until police arrived. — Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 21 Oct. 2026

This is evident in its determination to contain the protests, deploying over 40,000 security personnel, closing down metro and train stations, barricading central Delhi, suspending mobile Internet, and detaining over 7,000 people. — Pratap Bhanu Mehta, Foreign Affairs, 15 Oct. 2026

Flores is accused of participating in decisions to torture prisoners and helping oversee a network of officials responsible for detaining and interrogating people perceived as threats to the government. — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 15 Oct. 2026

Clampdown Over the weekend, Indian security forces reportedly clamped down on protests in the capital city, detaining young people, several opposition party politicians, YouTubers, lawyers and a few journalists. — Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 13 Oct. 2026