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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detainment
Noun
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The Trump budget cuts now mean Europe may have to go it alone, possibly facing further delays.—
Tereza Pultarova,
Space.com,
30 June 2025 -
Axiom Space Mission 4, a private astronaut mission to the International Space Station, launched on Wednesday after an extended delay due to a long-standing leak issue at the in-orbit research facility.—
Ashley Strickland,
CNN Money,
29 June 2025
Noun
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The detention immigration facility is located in an idle airstrip found within the Florida Everglades, about 40 miles west of Miami International Airport and halfway to Naples.—
Michelle Marchante,
Miami Herald,
1 July 2025
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The message came over a jail video call between an attorney and her client locked away in immigration detention.—
Nick Penzenstadler,
USA Today,
30 June 2025
Noun
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And, Burke and the Pate brothers say the final season will be well worth the wait.—
Samantha Stutsman,
People.com,
21 June 2025
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The program is a partnership between the two agencies and an effort to clear crash investigations more quickly in a region with clogged roads, a ballooning population and often-long wait times after minor accidents.—
Natalia Jaramillo,
The Orlando Sentinel,
21 June 2025
Noun
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The county’s incarceration rate was 56% higher than the state average, fueled by people with mental illnesses and substance abuse problems.—
Stephen Hudak,
The Orlando Sentinel,
29 June 2025
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Children who can’t read proficiently by third grade are far more likely to fall behind, drop out of high school and face worse life outcomes — from lower earnings to higher incarceration rates to shorter life expectancy.—
U T Editorial Board,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 June 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Detainment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detainment. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.
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