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
Relevance
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
Petersen said that the government has argued that Rihan’s detainment was based on a computer system error about when his humanitarian parole status will expire.
—
Laura Tillman, Hartford Courant, 25 Apr. 2026
Schlenker says the initial detainment has turned into a months-long legal battle overseas and there is no clear sign of returning home.
—Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 21 Apr. 2026
Among them are fears of border detainment and gun violence.
—Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 17 Apr. 2026
Immigration sweeps peaked in Orange County’s most populous city last summer with at least 30 detainments between mid-June and mid-September, including when federal officers descended several times on car washes and a Home Depot, ending in several deportations.
—Victoria Le, Oc Register, 14 Apr. 2026
Her supporters, including Cook County Commissioner Kevin Morrison, a family friend, decried her alleged detainment, and her story sparked outcry and protests.
—Victor Jacobo, CBS News, 11 Apr. 2026
His detainment followed interim President Delcy Rodríguez’s decision to elevate the agency’s longtime chief to defense minister.
—Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 26 Mar. 2026
Coggins continued by retelling the details of Estrada Juarez’s detainment and deportation, which involved her voluntarily showing up to a green card appointment with her daughter.
—Mathew Miranda
updated March 24, Sacbee.com, 24 Mar. 2026
The Parker County Sheriff’s Office, in partnership with the Weatherford Police Department and the Texas Department of Public Safety’s Criminal Investigations Division, executed a search warrant for Catron’s residence following his detainment.
—Tanya Babbar, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Mar. 2026
Laura Tillman, Hartford Courant, 25 Apr. 2026
Schlenker says the initial detainment has turned into a months-long legal battle overseas and there is no clear sign of returning home.
—Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 21 Apr. 2026
Among them are fears of border detainment and gun violence.
—Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 17 Apr. 2026
Immigration sweeps peaked in Orange County’s most populous city last summer with at least 30 detainments between mid-June and mid-September, including when federal officers descended several times on car washes and a Home Depot, ending in several deportations.
—Victoria Le, Oc Register, 14 Apr. 2026
Her supporters, including Cook County Commissioner Kevin Morrison, a family friend, decried her alleged detainment, and her story sparked outcry and protests.
—Victor Jacobo, CBS News, 11 Apr. 2026
His detainment followed interim President Delcy Rodríguez’s decision to elevate the agency’s longtime chief to defense minister.
—Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 26 Mar. 2026
Coggins continued by retelling the details of Estrada Juarez’s detainment and deportation, which involved her voluntarily showing up to a green card appointment with her daughter.
—Mathew Miranda
updated March 24, Sacbee.com, 24 Mar. 2026
The Parker County Sheriff’s Office, in partnership with the Weatherford Police Department and the Texas Department of Public Safety’s Criminal Investigations Division, executed a search warrant for Catron’s residence following his detainment.
—Tanya Babbar, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detainment
Noun
-
O'Hara said those delays in January were isolated and a direct result of Operation Metro Surge's drain on local resources.—
Conor Wight,
CBS News,
24 Apr. 2026
-
That is what the delay was, technical difficulties.—
Armando Salguero OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Hoshieh says one of her sons was killed by Israeli military gunfire in January 2023, while a second is held in Israeli administrative detention.—
Tal Shalev,
CNN Money,
21 Apr. 2026
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Ruben has spent two years at a juvenile detention facility, and Niall doesn’t want him as a classmate.—
Daniel Fienberg,
HollywoodReporter,
21 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Transit experts say long waits and congestion stem from inconsistent service.—
Yaelis Pena,
Miami Herald,
21 Apr. 2026
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Some also raised concerns about access to food and other necessities during the extended wait.—
Kelly McGreal,
FOXNews.com,
21 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Further out, a cemetery monument stands in honor of the 150 people who died at the camp during their imprisonment.—
Catherine Garcia,
TheWeek,
21 Apr. 2026
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The government did not specify the nature of the alternative measures, a term that in Venezuela’s legal system can include a range of restrictions short of full imprisonment.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
20 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
At one point, early in his incarceration, Maduro seems to have been kept in a unit designed for solitary confinement, as is often the case for inmates of his status.—
Diego Lasarte,
New Yorker,
21 Apr. 2026
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Facing a brutal system throughout her incarceration – compounded by her transgender identity and HIV-positive diagnosis – Dee taught herself the law from within the prison library, working to fight an unjust system for herself and others.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
21 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Detainment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detainment. Accessed 27 Apr. 2026.
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