DETAINMENT Synonyms: 46 Similar and Opposite Words

detainment

noun

Definition of detainment

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of detainment Allan Hancock College spokesperson Lauren Milbourne said Wednesday afternoon that the college stood by its initial statement of the incident, which said the detainment took place in Parking Lot 2 of the campus. — Mathew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 7 Oct. 2026 For Cazares, detainment created a pathway that otherwise would not have been available, said Peter Meinecke, senior staff attorney at The Resurrection Project. — Andrew Carter, Chicago Tribune, 20 Sep. 2026 Minnesota sought his extradition during his Texas detainment but Abbott refused to sign an extradition warrant. — ABC News, 18 Sep. 2026 However, detainments by federal agents have continued in the area. — Sabrina Franza, CBS News, 7 Sep. 2026 Hernandez’s lawyer declined to comment Thursday on his detainment. — Martin Goillandeau, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2026 The legislation came after Lee, Deluzio and Dean conducted visits to Moshannon Valley Processing Facility earlier this year, the Northeast's largest immigration detainment facility. — Finch Walker, USA Today, 18 Aug. 2026 Xinjiang is home to many Uyghurs, a Muslim minority that the Chinese government has subjected to surveillance, forced labor and detainment in concentration camps. — Hailey Wang, Los Angeles Times, 10 Aug. 2026 In June, Brittney and Cherelle opened up to PEOPLE about how Brittney’s detainment derailed their plans of starting a family. — Natasha Dye, PEOPLE, 31 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for detainment

Noun

But with hundreds of thousands of ballots already returned and hundreds of thousands more moving through the mail over the weekend, the legal fight still could cause delays.

— Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 31 Oct. 2026
Kenya’s own top-flight football league and national teams, for instance, have been riddled with challenges ranging from leadership wrangles to payment delays.

— Martin K.N Siele, semafor.com, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of delay

Noun

Some legal experts said prolonged detention occurs far too often, regardless of the suspect’s age.

— Hanako Montgomery, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026
Reporter covering religion, spirituality and meaning-making A 79-year-old Colorado pastor who lost 35 pounds and the strength to walk after being placed in immigration detention 13 months ago has been released by order of a federal magistrate judge.

— Washington Post, Washington Post, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of detention

Noun

After a two-year wait, Apple has updated the iPad mini with a huge spec and performance bump that should excite fans of the pocketable tablet.

— Eric Zeman, PC Magazine, 28 Oct. 2026
The expansion project will increase lab capacity, reduce wait times, and provide more counseling space, among other improvements to the facility.

— Elyssa Kaufman, CBS News, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of wait

Noun

Douglas detailed his volatile relationship with his late father, Kirk Douglas, his son Cameron’s addiction and imprisonment, and the Stage 4 cancer diagnosis that forced him to confront his own mortality.

— Christina Dugan Ramirez, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2026
For decades, Florida lawmakers have demanded investigations, indictments and imprisonment for the Cuban leadership involved.

— Liv Caputo Herald, Miami Herald, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of imprisonment

Noun

During her incarceration, Runa stopped eating and after her release, she was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.

— Hanako Montgomery, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026
Some of those lawmakers also want structural shifts in the country’s penal system, drawing inspiration from the mass-incarceration model of Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele, if Bolsonaro wins and wants to spend funds toward that end.

— ABC News, ABC News, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of incarceration

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“Detainment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detainment. Accessed 2 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of detainment

noun

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