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
Citizens have had their front doors blown out, been hit with pepper balls for praying outside government facilities, been wrongfully charged with assaulting agents, and have seen their identification papers dismissed as fake and thus grounds for detainment.
—
Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 11 Jan. 2026
Three other officers were convicted of violating Floyd’s civil rights due to their conduct during his detainment.
—Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 7 Jan. 2026
Thousands of miles away from their home country, Venezuelan Charlotteans are celebrating the capture and detainment of Maduro.
—Briah Lumpkins, Charlotte Observer, 6 Jan. 2026
Working abroad has presented challenges, with Brittney Griner’s 293-day Russian detainment being the most extreme example of the problems WNBA athletes could encounter in other countries.
—Myah Taylor, Dallas Morning News, 4 Jan. 2026
Featuring a number of flashbacks, the film focuses on the adult of a woman who as involved in the 1943 Rosenstrasse protests, during which non-Jewish women demonstrated against the Third Reich’s detainment of their Jewish husbands in Berlin.
—Erik Pedersen, Deadline, 30 Dec. 2025
Another recent case making headlines is the detainment of 22-year-old Dulce Consuelo Morales Diaz.
—Dennis Valera, CBS News, 29 Dec. 2025
After the news of Ferreira's detainment broke, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson confirmed her arrest to PEOPLE, claiming that her tourist visa had expired in 1999.
—Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 26 Dec. 2025
More on the Christmas Eve detainment.
—Arizona Republic, AZCentral.com, 24 Dec. 2025
Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 11 Jan. 2026
Three other officers were convicted of violating Floyd’s civil rights due to their conduct during his detainment.
—Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 7 Jan. 2026
Thousands of miles away from their home country, Venezuelan Charlotteans are celebrating the capture and detainment of Maduro.
—Briah Lumpkins, Charlotte Observer, 6 Jan. 2026
Working abroad has presented challenges, with Brittney Griner’s 293-day Russian detainment being the most extreme example of the problems WNBA athletes could encounter in other countries.
—Myah Taylor, Dallas Morning News, 4 Jan. 2026
Featuring a number of flashbacks, the film focuses on the adult of a woman who as involved in the 1943 Rosenstrasse protests, during which non-Jewish women demonstrated against the Third Reich’s detainment of their Jewish husbands in Berlin.
—Erik Pedersen, Deadline, 30 Dec. 2025
Another recent case making headlines is the detainment of 22-year-old Dulce Consuelo Morales Diaz.
—Dennis Valera, CBS News, 29 Dec. 2025
After the news of Ferreira's detainment broke, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson confirmed her arrest to PEOPLE, claiming that her tourist visa had expired in 1999.
—Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 26 Dec. 2025
More on the Christmas Eve detainment.
—Arizona Republic, AZCentral.com, 24 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detainment
Noun
-
From plane seatback organizers to carry-on cup holders, these accessories can save you from boarding delays and other headaches—starting at $9.—
Jillian Dara,
Travel + Leisure,
10 Jan. 2026
-
Hi Lab positions HyDee as a response to those challenges by eliminating charging delays associated with battery systems.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Malliotakis has not been in contact with the family of Luckey-Lange, son of the late musician Diane Luckey, but initially reached out to the State Department after her office received inquiries about his detention from local and state media.—
David Sivak,
The Washington Examiner,
8 Jan. 2026
-
No arrests, detentions or altercations with police were reported.—
Richard Ramos,
CBS News,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Prosecutors have also filed two sentencing enhancements against Buzzard, alleging use of a gun during a felony and murder while lying in wait, the Independent reported.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
10 Jan. 2026
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Despite a tricky entrance and a long wait on one of the busiest days of the year, the meal was worth it.—
Angela Lian,
Travel + Leisure,
10 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The kidnapping itself was extremely violent, but for the first month of my imprisonment, I was not otherwise physically abused.—
Elizabeth Tsurkov,
The Atlantic,
11 Jan. 2026
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Sharing unauthorized information about Vladimir Putin’s Ukraine war is punishable by up to 15 years’ imprisonment.—
Max Hastings,
Twin Cities,
11 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Trump has also repeatedly lashed out over the state’s incarceration of Tina Peters, the former county clerk convicted of state felonies related to her attempts to prove discredited election conspiracies shared by the president.—
Nick Coltrain,
Denver Post,
9 Jan. 2026
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Boardman imposed a sentence of 97 months, citing Roske’s mental health and concerns about incarceration conditions and his status as a first-time criminal offender.—
Kaelan Deese,
The Washington Examiner,
8 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Detainment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detainment. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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