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
Inside Krome, hold rooms are significantly less equipped for long stays than the main detention areas, which have beds, showers and other infrastructure.
—
Isabelle Chapman, CNN Money, 8 Sep. 2025
The treaty aims to prevent mistreatment and gave the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture the legal authority to inspect Russian detention facilities.
—Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025
Moshkovich has denied the charges and no one seems to know who among his detractors was behind his detention.
—Andrei Kolesnikov, Foreign Affairs, 8 Sep. 2025
But the detentions have already spooked foreign investors.
—Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for detention
Isabelle Chapman, CNN Money, 8 Sep. 2025
The treaty aims to prevent mistreatment and gave the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture the legal authority to inspect Russian detention facilities.
—Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025
Moshkovich has denied the charges and no one seems to know who among his detractors was behind his detention.
—Andrei Kolesnikov, Foreign Affairs, 8 Sep. 2025
But the detentions have already spooked foreign investors.
—Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for detention
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detention
Noun
-
Still grieving the death of his wife and the imprisonment of his son, Brandis binges on booze but possesses a sharp and intuitive mind, even if his family life is in disarray.—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
12 Sep. 2025
-
The two men care for each other amidst the squalid conditions of their imprisonment in 1970s Argentina.—
Maureen Lee Lenker,
Entertainment Weekly,
11 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Even in areas accustomed to heavier snowfalls, accumulations in this range can result in delays, collisions and road closures if not treated promptly.—
Theo Burman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Therefore, the resulting stock drops can be viewed as buying opportunities — so long as the delays don't turn into order cancellations.—
Jeff Marks,
CNBC,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
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But my incarceration now, like my glorious delusion then, cannot quell that yearning for something more.—
Manuel Muñoz,
Literary Hub,
11 Sep. 2025
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The mix of short-term detainees and long-haul prisoners makes SeaTac a unique microcosm of the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP), where courtroom drama and the gritty realities of incarceration meet under one roof.—
Walter Pavlo,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
This agreement removes that barrier to equal access for passengers with disabilities and provides a mechanism to compensate those harmed by Uber's past wait time fee policy.—
Robert Alexander,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 Sep. 2025
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Still, Sigourney Weaver's killer heels are worth the wait.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
12 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Detention.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detention. Accessed 15 Sep. 2025.
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