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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

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 detention At a detention hearing on April 24, a federal judge released McIntire into house arrest ahead of his May 1 trial. Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 1 May 2025 Widespread reports reveal that ICE agents are targeting these students and throwing them into detention. Susan Thomas, Time, 29 Apr. 2025 He was released from pre-trial detention in 2022 for health reasons. Sandra Gonzalez, CNN Money, 28 Apr. 2025 In a rare weekend ruling, Supreme Court justices blocked the Trump administration's plans to deport a group of Venezuelans held at a detention facility in Texas. CBS News, 20 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for detention
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detention
Noun
  • The delay in these markup hearings leaves little time for passage.
    Lauren Green, The Washington Examiner, 1 May 2025
  • But every year the U.S. delays, the window narrows.
    Javier Hasse, Forbes.com, 1 May 2025
Noun
  • Despite participation, many youth continue to experience homelessness, incarceration, and mental health challenges.
    First Place for Youth, Forbes.com, 1 May 2025
  • Punishments for disobeying contempt orders can range from fines to jail time, though incarceration is a rare and extreme recourse.
    Henry Gass, Christian Science Monitor, 30 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Results are shared through an online portal, removing long wait times or the need to return to the hospital.
    Jennifer Lotito, Forbes.com, 23 Apr. 2025
  • Weekend two of Coachella is here — along with wait times.
    Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Detention.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detention. Accessed 5 May. 2025.

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