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
Many of the students who have participated in school walkouts have cited deep personal concerns about how ICE's operations could result in wrongful detainments or violence in their communities.
—
Cate Charron, IndyStar, 19 Feb. 2026
The Lawrence Police Department did not confirm the detainments.
—Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 17 Feb. 2026
Planning for the worst Palacio-Mora sent out a protocol sheet to parents last week, following Tuesday’s detainment of four Ypsilanti community members.
—Beki San Martin, Freep.com, 6 Feb. 2026
Elizabeth’s school social worker, who has seen the impact of agents’ actions on students, called for the detainment of children to stop.
—Holly Yan, CNN Money, 6 Feb. 2026
Since her father's detainment, Betancourt has traveled across the country to participate in demonstrations, including spending the past week in Minneapolis.
—Nikiya Carrero, CBS News, 31 Jan. 2026
Since her father’s detainment, Betancourt has traveled across the country to participate in demonstrations, including spending the past week in Minneapolis.
—Nikiya Carrero, Miami Herald, 31 Jan. 2026
The detainments have broadly affected the staff and students in her district.
—Janelle Griffith, PEOPLE, 30 Jan. 2026
Other big stories ➤ The Department of Homeland Security bought a warehouse for detainment in this Valley city for more than $70 million.
—Arizona Republic, AZCentral.com, 30 Jan. 2026
Cate Charron, IndyStar, 19 Feb. 2026
The Lawrence Police Department did not confirm the detainments.
—Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 17 Feb. 2026
Planning for the worst Palacio-Mora sent out a protocol sheet to parents last week, following Tuesday’s detainment of four Ypsilanti community members.
—Beki San Martin, Freep.com, 6 Feb. 2026
Elizabeth’s school social worker, who has seen the impact of agents’ actions on students, called for the detainment of children to stop.
—Holly Yan, CNN Money, 6 Feb. 2026
Since her father's detainment, Betancourt has traveled across the country to participate in demonstrations, including spending the past week in Minneapolis.
—Nikiya Carrero, CBS News, 31 Jan. 2026
Since her father’s detainment, Betancourt has traveled across the country to participate in demonstrations, including spending the past week in Minneapolis.
—Nikiya Carrero, Miami Herald, 31 Jan. 2026
The detainments have broadly affected the staff and students in her district.
—Janelle Griffith, PEOPLE, 30 Jan. 2026
Other big stories ➤ The Department of Homeland Security bought a warehouse for detainment in this Valley city for more than $70 million.
—Arizona Republic, AZCentral.com, 30 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detainment
Noun
-
The agency has struggled to meet federal and state deadlines, with over one-third of cash assistance cases still facing delays as of late 2024 and throughout 2025.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Every month of permitting delays or grid interconnection backlogs is a month where investment risks flowing elsewhere.—
Stuart Loren,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
In the case at hand, the defendants have been indicted in connection with the July 4 shooting of a local police lieutenant outside an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facility in Johnson County.—
Emerson Clarridge
Updated February 17,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
18 Feb. 2026
-
The New Mexico measure prohibits state and local government contracts for ICE detention facilities and bars agreements that allow local law officers to carry out federal immigration functions.—
David A. Lieb,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Officials say the wait will be worth it because the old bridge is notorious for delays.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
17 Feb. 2026
-
The wait tends to form around cafés, bakeries and restaurants that are deeply intentional about sourcing, craft and presentation.—
Ryma Chikhoune,
Footwear News,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
And there was a habeas petition, which is a particular kind of lawsuit that allows somebody to challenge the legality of their imprisonment or other deprivations of liberty.—
Isaac Chotiner,
New Yorker,
19 Feb. 2026
-
That imprisonment lasted about a month, before Tanimoto and the others from his block returned to the rest of the internment camp population.—
Jake Goodrick,
Sacbee.com,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Journalist Vida Rabbani and activist Abdollah Momeni, who were arrested with Mahmoudian in January, were also released after 17 days of incarceration.—
Anne Thompson,
IndieWire,
17 Feb. 2026
-
My approach involves raising wages, protecting affordable housing, and dismantling the workforce barriers that follow people after incarceration.—
Rachel Royster,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Detainment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detainment. Accessed 23 Feb. 2026.
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