1
as in delay
an instance or period of being prevented from going about one's business
the returning vacationers' detainment at the border only lasted a few minutes
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in detention
the state of being held in lawful custody
she'll be kept in detainment until the trial if she can't post bail
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of detainment
Right now, any contact with local or state law enforcement puts you at risk of detainment and deportation.
—
Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Oc Register, 21 Oct. 2025
Since the boy's detainment, members in the community and local leaders have sparked outrage, demanding for his release.
—Megan Forrester, ABC News, 15 Oct. 2025
Her case received coverage by local media throughout her detainment, as her community rallied behind her to secure her release.
—Andrew Stanton, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025
Thomas, who lives in the area and witnessed the detainment, recalled the scene to WGN-TV.
—Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 11 Oct. 2025
This year has been nothing short of horrific for our country’s Latine population, thanks to the current administration’s anti-immigration legislation and numerous, often-violent ICE raids, resulting in mass deportations and detainment (sometimes among legal residents and citizens).
—Sofía Viera, Allure, 10 Oct. 2025
Even though the state’s adult-use market kicked off two years ago, distribution has been like a minefield, with drivers facing detainment from Border Patrol officers.
—Benjamin Adams, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
The Carrillo Law Firm, which shared the claim with McClatchy News, and the Law Offices of Christian Contreras are challenging his detainment, arguing ICE and Border Patrol violated his civil rights.
—Julia Marnin, Sacbee.com, 29 Aug. 2025
Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Oc Register, 21 Oct. 2025
Since the boy's detainment, members in the community and local leaders have sparked outrage, demanding for his release.
—Megan Forrester, ABC News, 15 Oct. 2025
Her case received coverage by local media throughout her detainment, as her community rallied behind her to secure her release.
—Andrew Stanton, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025
Thomas, who lives in the area and witnessed the detainment, recalled the scene to WGN-TV.
—Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 11 Oct. 2025
This year has been nothing short of horrific for our country’s Latine population, thanks to the current administration’s anti-immigration legislation and numerous, often-violent ICE raids, resulting in mass deportations and detainment (sometimes among legal residents and citizens).
—Sofía Viera, Allure, 10 Oct. 2025
Even though the state’s adult-use market kicked off two years ago, distribution has been like a minefield, with drivers facing detainment from Border Patrol officers.
—Benjamin Adams, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
The Carrillo Law Firm, which shared the claim with McClatchy News, and the Law Offices of Christian Contreras are challenging his detainment, arguing ICE and Border Patrol violated his civil rights.
—Julia Marnin, Sacbee.com, 29 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detainment
Noun
-
Once again, LaGuardia Airport was particularly affected by delays, with 132 disruptions, as was John F Kennedy International Airport (102) and Logan International Airport (98).—
Jasmine Laws,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Oct. 2025
-
On Saturday, Egypt’s showpiece museum officially opens its doors after innumerable interruptions, delays and setbacks.—
Oscar Holland,
CNN Money,
31 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Cheney was an architect of the Bush administration’s war on terror and its secret detention program, defending the use of waterboarding and other interrogation techniques.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
4 Nov. 2025
-
The government did not seek detention.—
Michael Dorgan , Stephen Sorace,
FOXNews.com,
4 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
For summer weddings, the wait is worth it for better weather in key destinations.—
Jim Augerinos,
Travel + Leisure,
31 Oct. 2025
-
For the 62-year-old architect, who was in her late 30s when the competition was announced, seeing the project come to fruition has, nonetheless, been worth the wait.—
Oscar Holland,
CNN Money,
31 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Nii Mensah was sentenced to nine years’ imprisonment for his role in the attack; Jakeem Rose received eight; and Ugnius Asmena received seven.—
Christian Edwards,
CNN Money,
24 Oct. 2025
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According to the report, the manager was charged with three counts of unlawful imprisonment, along with a $500 bond for each, and one count of harassment with an additional $500 bond, totaling to a $2,000 bond.—
Moná Thomas,
PEOPLE,
23 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Tarek Bazrouk, an anti-Israel agitator who was hit with federal hate crime charges after assaulting Jewish counter-protesters, was sentenced to 17 months of incarceration followed by three years of supervised release.—
Rachel Wolf , Maria Paronich,
FOXNews.com,
28 Oct. 2025
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Diving into the data, indicators such as access to grocery stores, affordable housing options, incarceration rates and homelessness all play a factor in lowering family stability.—
Desiree Mathurin,
Charlotte Observer,
28 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Detainment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detainment. Accessed 6 Nov. 2025.
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