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
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
The reasons for his detainment were unclear.
—Andrew Stanton, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025
Sandy Hook Promise works to keep schools safe Police in Northern California say a possible school shooting was prevented due to a tip line that led to the detainment of a student who shared questionable material online.
—Mark Guarino, ABC News, 22 Sep. 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
The arrest followed Knox’s detainment by Italian police for questioning — an interrogation that lasted 53 hours over five days without legal counsel or an interpreter present and led to Knox eventually signing a confession that put her at the crime scene and implicated Lumumba.
—Alyssa Davis, People.com, 27 Aug. 2025
The View additionally came under fire from political figures in recent weeks, especially after Navarro voiced opposition to people making a tourist spectacle out of the Alligator Alcatraz detainment centers in Florida.
—EW.com, 25 Aug. 2025
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
The reasons for his detainment were unclear.
—Andrew Stanton, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025
Sandy Hook Promise works to keep schools safe Police in Northern California say a possible school shooting was prevented due to a tip line that led to the detainment of a student who shared questionable material online.
—Mark Guarino, ABC News, 22 Sep. 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
The arrest followed Knox’s detainment by Italian police for questioning — an interrogation that lasted 53 hours over five days without legal counsel or an interpreter present and led to Knox eventually signing a confession that put her at the crime scene and implicated Lumumba.
—Alyssa Davis, People.com, 27 Aug. 2025
The View additionally came under fire from political figures in recent weeks, especially after Navarro voiced opposition to people making a tourist spectacle out of the Alligator Alcatraz detainment centers in Florida.
—EW.com, 25 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detainment
Noun
-
Package cannot clear due to customs delay or missing info.—
Kayla Steinberg,
NBC news,
10 Oct. 2025
-
Laurene Allen, an environmental advocate who lives in Merrimack, New Hampshire, where PFNA was one of several forever chemicals discovered in drinking water in 2016, was awaiting the report and is frustrated and enraged by its delay.—
Sharon Lerner,
ProPublica,
10 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Mahe was granted bail with home detention by the judge, according to the outlet.—
Kimberlee Speakman,
PEOPLE,
14 Oct. 2025
-
Tran told she was detained during the check-in with ICE in May—usually a quick process—and that the government did not give her any reason for her detention at the time.—
Andrew Stanton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Five wins from five sees Stale Solbakken’s free-scoring side, fuelled by the goals of Manchester City striker Erling Haaland, top their group with a flawless record, and the next month could see an end to Norway’s 26-year wait to feature in a major tournament.—
Philip Buckingham,
New York Times,
10 Oct. 2025
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Preparing World of Flight Philadelphia ready to open took longer than expected because of the requirements for construction in a historic building, but Jordan Brand sees the wait as worth it in order to execute such an authentic space.—
Ian Servantes,
Footwear News,
10 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Legendary Italian auteur Marco Bellocchio (The Traitor, Kidnapped) directed and co-wrote the six-episode series, which tells the story of the downfall and imprisonment of popular TV host Enzo Tortora, an innocent man.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
11 Oct. 2025
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Zoë described her uncle as a deeply compassionate man who transformed his decades of imprisonment into a mission of service.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
11 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Outraged Korean officials opened an investigation into potential human rights abuses during the workers’ incarceration.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
9 Oct. 2025
-
In real life, there's no evidence that the FBI visited Gein during his incarceration.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
8 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Detainment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detainment. Accessed 17 Oct. 2025.
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