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
And Miller expects regular updates on detention capacity, deportation flights, and border crossings.
—
Michael Scherer, The Atlantic, 7 Jan. 2026
The National Police has been repeatedly cited by national and international human rights organizations for excessive use of force, arbitrary detentions, and the mistreatment of protesters and civilians.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 6 Jan. 2026
Laboni Hoq, a chief attorney on the case, said the goal is to keep Khan out of detention while the team seeks to adjust her status.
—Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 6 Jan. 2026
No explanation was given for their detention.
—Michael Rios, CNN Money, 6 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for detention
Michael Scherer, The Atlantic, 7 Jan. 2026
The National Police has been repeatedly cited by national and international human rights organizations for excessive use of force, arbitrary detentions, and the mistreatment of protesters and civilians.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 6 Jan. 2026
Laboni Hoq, a chief attorney on the case, said the goal is to keep Khan out of detention while the team seeks to adjust her status.
—Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 6 Jan. 2026
No explanation was given for their detention.
—Michael Rios, CNN Money, 6 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for detention
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detention
Noun
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Violating the law − for both the largecarnivore and wolf-dog cross acts − are misdemeanors and punishable by monetary fines and imprisonment, for instance.—
Nushrat Rahman,
Freep.com,
12 Jan. 2026
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Instead, after being caught at sea, refugees are taken back to Libya where, between 2017 and 2022, more than 100,000 men, women and children have been locked up, essentially for being there illegally — albeit without any official charges or trials to contest their imprisonment.—
Simon Hughes,
New York Times,
12 Jan. 2026
Noun
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From plane seatback organizers to carry-on cup holders, these accessories can save you from boarding delays and other headaches—starting at $9.—
Jillian Dara,
Travel + Leisure,
10 Jan. 2026
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Hi Lab positions HyDee as a response to those challenges by eliminating charging delays associated with battery systems.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Trump has also repeatedly lashed out over the state’s incarceration of Tina Peters, the former county clerk convicted of state felonies related to her attempts to prove discredited election conspiracies shared by the president.—
Nick Coltrain,
Denver Post,
9 Jan. 2026
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Boardman imposed a sentence of 97 months, citing Roske’s mental health and concerns about incarceration conditions and his status as a first-time criminal offender.—
Kaelan Deese,
The Washington Examiner,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Prosecutors have also filed two sentencing enhancements against Buzzard, alleging use of a gun during a felony and murder while lying in wait, the Independent reported.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
10 Jan. 2026
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Despite a tricky entrance and a long wait on one of the busiest days of the year, the meal was worth it.—
Angela Lian,
Travel + Leisure,
10 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Detention.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detention. Accessed 19 Jan. 2026.
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