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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of detention
He's set to return to court for a detention hearing on Thursday.
—
Lucien Bruggeman, ABC News, 28 Apr. 2026
The Eastern District of California — already in a years-long judicial emergency — now faces nearly 1,000 new immigration detention petitions per month on top of a civil case backlog.
—Scott Lebar. Story Produced With Ai Assistance, Sacbee.com, 27 Apr. 2026
The man charged in the deadly shooting of a UPS driver on the city's South Side last month will remain in jail following his detention hearing on Monday.
—Shardaa Gray, CBS News, 27 Apr. 2026
Judge Sharbaugh set a detention hearing for April 30 before another judge.
—Christopher Cann, USA Today, 27 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for detention
Lucien Bruggeman, ABC News, 28 Apr. 2026
The Eastern District of California — already in a years-long judicial emergency — now faces nearly 1,000 new immigration detention petitions per month on top of a civil case backlog.
—Scott Lebar. Story Produced With Ai Assistance, Sacbee.com, 27 Apr. 2026
The man charged in the deadly shooting of a UPS driver on the city's South Side last month will remain in jail following his detention hearing on Monday.
—Shardaa Gray, CBS News, 27 Apr. 2026
Judge Sharbaugh set a detention hearing for April 30 before another judge.
—Christopher Cann, USA Today, 27 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for detention
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detention
Noun
-
The fallout for Murdock, as seen in the episode, is his arrest and imprisonment.—
Tracy Brown,
Los Angeles Times,
6 May 2026
-
Her current imprisonment began in December, when she was arrested in the northeastern city of Mashhad.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
6 May 2026
Noun
-
Heidi Vonblum, the city’s planning director, said the delay will allow the city to help neighborhoods that have suffered from past city zoning practices, including zoning based on race or ethnicity.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 May 2026
-
Gas prices, which tend to follow moves in oil with a delay, were slightly higher on May 7.—
Michael Loria,
USA Today,
8 May 2026
Noun
-
While the median home price in the Baltimore area is around $360,000, the median asset wealth for a Black family in the city unaffected by incarceration is approximately $2,700.—
Izabela Engel,
Baltimore Sun,
28 Apr. 2026
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Another challenge came in the form of how to describe three and a half years, beginning in March 1942, that Mirikitani spent at the Tule Lake incarceration camp in Northern California, alongside thousands of other Japanese American citizens.—
Tessa Solomon,
ARTnews.com,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Tables turn quickly even with 20 parties ahead of you — about a 20-minute wait.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Insurance coverage for mental illnesses further complicates the problem of consistent care because the number of visits to mental health professionals are usually limited, and there are often long waits to see providers.—
Jeffrey Freedman,
Sun Sentinel,
27 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Detention.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detention. Accessed 10 May. 2026.
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