1
as in imprisonment
the state of being held in lawful custody
he's been in detention since the arrest
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of detention
Former detention officer Antwain Nance took 8%.
—
Ryan Oehrli
march 17, Charlotte Observer, 17 Mar. 2026
Massive detention capacity expansion If confirmed, Mullin will oversee the largest expansion of American immigration detention in generations.
—Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 17 Mar. 2026
As attorneys fight the ongoing detentions in court, some SIJS recipients have been released.
—Daniella Silva, NBC news, 17 Mar. 2026
Chase Cook, 23, was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of murder and booked in to the Fort Worth police detention facility.
—Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for detention
Ryan Oehrli
march 17, Charlotte Observer, 17 Mar. 2026
Massive detention capacity expansion If confirmed, Mullin will oversee the largest expansion of American immigration detention in generations.
—Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 17 Mar. 2026
As attorneys fight the ongoing detentions in court, some SIJS recipients have been released.
—Daniella Silva, NBC news, 17 Mar. 2026
Chase Cook, 23, was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of murder and booked in to the Fort Worth police detention facility.
—Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for detention
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detention
Noun
-
International human rights observers have long criticized his arrest, trial, and imprisonment.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Senegal has joined countries like Kenya, Sierra Leone, and Tanzania, where penalties can include 10 or more years of imprisonment.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The delay is limiting discussion on an important topic, said Stephanie Richard, a clinical professor who leads the Sunita Jain Anti-Trafficking Initiative at Loyola Law School, which released its own comprehensive report on human trafficking and the 2026 World Cup and 2028 Olympics in December.—
Assistant Sports Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Mar. 2026
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So, everyday purchases such as clothing, phone cases, small appliances, and shoes remain subject to tariffs and customs delays.—
Jay Caruso,
The Washington Examiner,
13 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The housekeeper was already in a drug court program as an alternative to incarceration on other charges when authorities arrested her in connection with the Richins case, investigators said.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 Mar. 2026
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At the same time, Connecticut continues to pursue criminal justice reforms aimed at reducing incarceration and expanding diversionary opportunities for offenders.—
Keith Wortz,
Hartford Courant,
13 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Flyers can check estimated current wait times by downloading the MyTSA app.—
Alex Driggars,
Austin American Statesman,
17 Mar. 2026
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Borrowers blocked from relief amid high default rates The wait to access relief programs comes at an especially difficult time for student loan borrowers, experts say.—
Annie Nova,
CNBC,
17 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Detention.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detention. Accessed 19 Mar. 2026.
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