Synonyms of detains

detains

verb

present tense third-person singular of detain

1

as in apprehends

to take or keep (someone) in confinement by authority of law

Police detained the suspect.

Related Words

• apprehends
• arrests
• seizes
• restrains
• imprisons
• restricts
• nabs
• pinches
• shuts
• commits
• captures
• incarcerates
• holds
• constrains
• runs in
• grabs
• confines
• jails
• limits
• pulls in
• locks (up)
• nails
• collars
• picks up
• snatches
• nicks
• interns
• busts
• gates
• binds
• grapples
• lands
• traps
• catches
• snares
• immures
• snaps (up)
• bars
• jugs
• bags
• gets
• handcuffs
• fetters
• hooks
• remands
• shackles
• enchains
• trammels
• manacles
• rearrests

Dissimilar Words

• liberates
• frees
• loosens
• springs
• looses
• releases
• emancipates
• discharges
• unbinds
• unchains

2

as in delays

to keep (someone or something) from proceeding or progressing

She sent word that she had been unavoidably detained.

The plane was detained for hours due to inclement weather.

Related Words

• delays
• slows
• suspends
• hinders
• obstructs
• impedes
• keeps
• halts
• blocks
• hesitates
• retards
• pauses
• balks
• holds
• extends
• prolongs
• baffles
• stalls
• lengthens
• snags
• stems
• defers
• sets back
• holds up
• clogs
• holds back
• represses
• terminates
• protracts
• dams
• blockades
• stretches (out)
• remits
• arrests
• holds over
• bottlenecks
• suppresses
• discontinues
• concludes
• ends
• shelves
• cuts off
• stops
• lays over
• puts off
• stays
• reins (in)
• checks
• turns back
• holds off (on)
• puts over
• squashes
• catches
• calls
• squelches
• stunts
• brings up
• stills
• pulls up
• draws up
• chokes off
• stanches
• fetches up

Dissimilar Words

• continues
• persists
• keeps (on)
• runs on
• carries on
• moves
• progresses
• keeps up
• proceeds
• follows through (with)
• advances
• marches
• fares
• stirs
• pushes
• impels
• goes along
• actuates
• drives
• propels
• wends
• spurs
• goads
• budges

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of detains

The policy guidance applies to agents under Enforcement and Removal Operations, the branch of ICE that detains and ultimately deports undocumented immigrants. — Philip Wang, Time, 14 July 2026

Alligator Alcatraz houses a few hundred employees in trailers and detains about 650 male immigrants in large tents; until a few weeks ago, the number of those being detained was nearly 1,500. — Eric Schlosser, The Atlantic, 4 June 2026

What are your rights if ICE detains you? — Laura Daniella Sepulveda, AZCentral.com, 29 Jan. 2026

Independent groups like Human Rights Watch say the Venezuelan government intimidates human rights advocates, arrests and detains protesters and harasses journalists. — Syra Ortiz Blanes, Miami Herald, 14 Jan. 2026

The Pinault family owns 42 percent of shares in Kering and detains 59 percent of voting rights. — Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 9 Sep. 2025

The play is set in the real-life town of Lumpkin, whose economy has become reliant on a private prison that detains immigrants. — Martha Ross, Mercury News, 7 Aug. 2025