1
as in imprisonment
the state of being held in lawful custody
he's been in detention since the arrest
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in delay
an instance or period of being prevented from going about one's business
the detention at the airport security checkpoint was brief, but because he was running late, it caused him to miss his flight
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of detention
Abrego Garcia's attorneys had asked that the court deny the government's request, and also, in light of the government's position, to allow Abrego Garcia to be released from detention.
—
Ely Brown, ABC News, 6 Oct. 2025
In fiscal year 2025, at least 15 people died in ICE custody, out of more than 59,000 people in immigration detention.
—Ximena Bustillo, NPR, 6 Oct. 2025
Monday's indirect talks are meant to prepare the way for the release of hostages from Gaza and Palestinians from Israeli detention, mediator Egypt said.
—Sam Mednick, Arkansas Online, 5 Oct. 2025
The detentions were made in recent weeks as part of an investigation by the Oversight and Anti-Corruption Authority, also known as Nazaha, the people said.
—Matthew Martin, semafor.com, 5 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for detention
Ely Brown, ABC News, 6 Oct. 2025
In fiscal year 2025, at least 15 people died in ICE custody, out of more than 59,000 people in immigration detention.
—Ximena Bustillo, NPR, 6 Oct. 2025
Monday's indirect talks are meant to prepare the way for the release of hostages from Gaza and Palestinians from Israeli detention, mediator Egypt said.
—Sam Mednick, Arkansas Online, 5 Oct. 2025
The detentions were made in recent weeks as part of an investigation by the Oversight and Anti-Corruption Authority, also known as Nazaha, the people said.
—Matthew Martin, semafor.com, 5 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for detention
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detention
Noun
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Zuazo and Hernandez each were charged with one count of first-degree felony murder and two counts of unlawful imprisonment.—
Christina Hall,
Freep.com,
3 Oct. 2025
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His aggressive defense tactics—including refusing to reveal sources and challenging judicial conduct—led to his brief imprisonment and ultimately the removal of the presiding Judge, Ural Glanville.—
Hannah Parry,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The Pontifical Academies also warned that delay raises systemic risks (economic, social, and health related) echoing the investor logic that policy certainty lowers risk premia.—
Felicia Jackson,
Forbes.com,
3 Oct. 2025
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That delay could expose Club name Boeing to sizable non-cash accounting charges.—
Jim Cramer,
CNBC,
3 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Although this situation has been the hardest and darkest time in my life, good things have come out of my incarceration.—
Lauren del Valle,
CNN Money,
2 Oct. 2025
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Over the 1990s, Washington seized on that opacity to transform the base into a theater of extraterritorial mass incarceration to hold tens of thousands of Haitian and Cuban asylum-seekers fleeing political violence and economic collapse in their home countries.—
Miriam Pensack,
The Dial,
30 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Toco has a 90-day wait, however, and requires an additional 1,000 miles on the odometer before your policy is activated.—
Brian Sloan,
CNBC,
3 Oct. 2025
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Streamlined layouts—redesigned, open layouts create better traffic flow, make supplies easier to find and further reduce wait times.—
Matthew Robinson,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Detention.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detention. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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