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
Chicagoans blew whistles and filmed detainments while immigration agents patrolled neighborhoods with military-grade weapons as part of Operation Midway Blitz.
—
Alex Poppe, Chicago Tribune, 12 June 2026
Deputies said Appleberry resisted arrest and later spit blood on medical personnel as he was being treated in detainment.
—Sacbee.com, 8 June 2026
The detainments would also be very temporary, would only be during the building's office hours, and no one would be detained overnight.
—Dennis Valera, CBS News, 3 June 2026
Marrero said his husband’s identification was taken during his detainment and was not returned.
—Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 6 May 2026
Anxiety is high among stadium workers, who are concerned about the threat of ICE detainment, regardless of their immigration status.
—Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2026
Juan and Donovan’s relationship was interrupted by his detainment early on, so their evidence wasn’t as easy.
—Elizabeth Hernandez, Denver Post, 26 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
Alex Poppe, Chicago Tribune, 12 June 2026
Deputies said Appleberry resisted arrest and later spit blood on medical personnel as he was being treated in detainment.
—Sacbee.com, 8 June 2026
The detainments would also be very temporary, would only be during the building's office hours, and no one would be detained overnight.
—Dennis Valera, CBS News, 3 June 2026
Marrero said his husband’s identification was taken during his detainment and was not returned.
—Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 6 May 2026
Anxiety is high among stadium workers, who are concerned about the threat of ICE detainment, regardless of their immigration status.
—Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2026
Juan and Donovan’s relationship was interrupted by his detainment early on, so their evidence wasn’t as easy.
—Elizabeth Hernandez, Denver Post, 26 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detainment
Noun
-
This story will be updated as more delays and closures are announced.—
Gillian Stawiszynski,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
12 Dec. 2025
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The mutation can result in childhood-onset epilepsy, developmental delays and movement disorders, according to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.—
Vicky Nguyen,
NBC news,
11 Dec. 2025
Noun
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Padilla’s plan would eliminate the detention of families and would also require DHS to prove someone’s level of criminal threat and conviction history before using it as justification for detaining them.—
Evelyn Ronan,
Sacbee.com,
16 June 2026
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Overstreet said once it’s completed, the modular jail will be used until a permanent detention and rehabilitation center is built in the city.—
Dylan Lysen
June 16,
Kansas City Star,
16 June 2026
Noun
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To bolster his case, DeWine brandished charts and graphs detailing the diminishing number of death sentences meted out by courts and showing the exceedingly long wait times that elapse as legal appeals play out for those on death row.—
Julie Carr Smyth,
Los Angeles Times,
16 June 2026
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For anyone with a non-Pixel Android phone, the wait will be much longer.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
16 June 2026
Noun
-
In the weeks leading up to his imprisonment, Abu Safiya fought to maintain his composure as Israeli forces surrounded the hospital, releasing grainy video dispatches from the facility under siege.—
Julia Frankel,
Los Angeles Times,
11 June 2026
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During the earlier dictatorship, Kim survived imprisonment and at least one attempt to kill him.—
Arthur I. Cyr,
Chicago Tribune,
10 June 2026
Noun
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In October, his children made heartfelt pleas to a New York federal judge to see their father released from federal lockup after more than a year of incarceration.—
Kevin Dolak,
HollywoodReporter,
16 June 2026
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Epstein seemed to feel increasingly depressed about the conditions of his incarceration.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
16 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Detainment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detainment. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
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