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
The 43-acre former warehouse at 50 Robert Milligan Parkway in Merrimack was set to be converted into a new 400-bed detention facility – one of several large-scale facilities the agency is planning to erect across the country.
—
Tim Dunn, Boston Herald, 24 Feb. 2026
Desta said that the Minsk police were going from apartment to apartment, rounding up migrants who had failed to cross and sending some to detention facilities to await deportation; others have been sent to the Russian border and conscripted into the Army, to fight in Ukraine.
—Elizabeth Flock, New Yorker, 23 Feb. 2026
The two individuals were taken to the Kane County Juvenile Justice Center, where a detention hearing will be held to determine continued custody, the police department said.
—Aurora Beacon-News, Chicago Tribune, 23 Feb. 2026
British police arrested Peter Mandelson on suspicion of misconduct in office, days after the detention of former prince Andrew.
—Sammy Westfall, Washington Post, 23 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for detention
Tim Dunn, Boston Herald, 24 Feb. 2026
Desta said that the Minsk police were going from apartment to apartment, rounding up migrants who had failed to cross and sending some to detention facilities to await deportation; others have been sent to the Russian border and conscripted into the Army, to fight in Ukraine.
—Elizabeth Flock, New Yorker, 23 Feb. 2026
The two individuals were taken to the Kane County Juvenile Justice Center, where a detention hearing will be held to determine continued custody, the police department said.
—Aurora Beacon-News, Chicago Tribune, 23 Feb. 2026
British police arrested Peter Mandelson on suspicion of misconduct in office, days after the detention of former prince Andrew.
—Sammy Westfall, Washington Post, 23 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for detention
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detention
Noun
-
And there was a habeas petition, which is a particular kind of lawsuit that allows somebody to challenge the legality of their imprisonment or other deprivations of liberty.—
Isaac Chotiner,
New Yorker,
19 Feb. 2026
-
That imprisonment lasted about a month, before Tanimoto and the others from his block returned to the rest of the internment camp population.—
Jake Goodrick,
Sacbee.com,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The agency has struggled to meet federal and state deadlines, with over one-third of cash assistance cases still facing delays as of late 2024 and throughout 2025.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Every month of permitting delays or grid interconnection backlogs is a month where investment risks flowing elsewhere.—
Stuart Loren,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Michelle Parris is the California director at Vera Action, a 501(c)(4) organization harnessing the power of advocacy, lobbying, and political strategy to end mass incarceration, protect immigrants’ rights, restore dignity to people behind bars, and build safe and thriving communities.—
Jose Bernal,
Oc Register,
24 Feb. 2026
-
The author argues that San Quentin’s transformation into a rehabilitation center represents a remarkable shift in how society should approach incarceration, given that 95% of incarcerated people are eventually released back into communities.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
In a business where buying decisions are made seasons in advance, that kind of wait can add up.—
AJ Willingham,
AJC.com,
24 Feb. 2026
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But the video message Reid recorded — raw, grateful, honest about her health — is the kind of author update that makes the wait feel less like a setback and more like a promise.—
Hanna Wickes,
Miami Herald,
24 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Detention.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detention. Accessed 26 Feb. 2026.
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