1
as in imprisonments
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 delays
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 detentions
This has led to a pattern of unlawful detentions and mass deportations, creating a climate of fear and exacerbating the 'chilling effect' for migrant communities and for international students across schools and campuses.
—
Austen Erblat, CBS News, 18 Feb. 2026
Habeas corpus petitions have been used to challenge detentions that drew national attention, including those of former Columbia University graduate student Mahmoud Khalil and Tufts University student Rumeysa Ozturk.
—Juan Carlos Chavez, Sun Sentinel, 18 Feb. 2026
Tateishi urged people fighting the current wave of detentions and deportations to persevere.
—Zoe Sottile, CNN Money, 16 Feb. 2026
Meanwhile, major federal immigration enforcement operations appear to be winding down in Minnesota, though detentions continue to be reported.
—Alex Derosier, Twin Cities, 16 Feb. 2026
Such harm includes allegations of property damage caused by agents breaking into private property, chokeholds and other physical mistreatment, unlawful detentions of citizens for days, and even death (in the case of Renee Good, the American citizen shot by ICE in Minneapolis).
—Agustina Vergara Cid, Oc Register, 15 Feb. 2026
But the apparent detentions may have ended without major breakthroughs.
—Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 14 Feb. 2026
Dilley was built in 2014 under President Barack Obama’s administration’s expansion of family detentions — a blemish, to my mind, on his presidency.
—Heidi Stevens, Chicago Tribune, 13 Feb. 2026
These petitions require the government to explain their detentions.
—Cristóbal Reyes, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Feb. 2026
Austen Erblat, CBS News, 18 Feb. 2026
Habeas corpus petitions have been used to challenge detentions that drew national attention, including those of former Columbia University graduate student Mahmoud Khalil and Tufts University student Rumeysa Ozturk.
—Juan Carlos Chavez, Sun Sentinel, 18 Feb. 2026
Tateishi urged people fighting the current wave of detentions and deportations to persevere.
—Zoe Sottile, CNN Money, 16 Feb. 2026
Meanwhile, major federal immigration enforcement operations appear to be winding down in Minnesota, though detentions continue to be reported.
—Alex Derosier, Twin Cities, 16 Feb. 2026
Such harm includes allegations of property damage caused by agents breaking into private property, chokeholds and other physical mistreatment, unlawful detentions of citizens for days, and even death (in the case of Renee Good, the American citizen shot by ICE in Minneapolis).
—Agustina Vergara Cid, Oc Register, 15 Feb. 2026
But the apparent detentions may have ended without major breakthroughs.
—Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 14 Feb. 2026
Dilley was built in 2014 under President Barack Obama’s administration’s expansion of family detentions — a blemish, to my mind, on his presidency.
—Heidi Stevens, Chicago Tribune, 13 Feb. 2026
These petitions require the government to explain their detentions.
—Cristóbal Reyes, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detentions
Noun
-
While much of her early music didn’t delve into politics, her widespread influence and affiliation with the Shah resulted in brief imprisonments, interrogations, confiscations and, most permanently, a ban on singing and performing in Iran.—
Mandy Taheri,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Yet the buyback program has suffered yearslong delays and pushback from police, provincial officials and gun owners.—
Max Saltman,
CNN Money,
15 Feb. 2026
-
Travelers with airline reservations may be nervously recalling a 43-day government shutdown that led to historic flight cancellations and long delays last year.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
14 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Despite their felony convictions and impending incarcerations, both former Met police career criminals continue to collect their monthly kisses in the mail — $8,850 a month for Cederquist and $6,020 for Butner.—
Howie Carr,
Boston Herald,
4 Jan. 2026
-
Baltimore leaders say that 87% of young men enrolled in Roca Baltimore for 24 months have no new incarcerations, while those who stay in the program for three years are 19% less likely to return to a life of crime than other similarly aged men in Maryland.—
Adam Thompson,
CBS News,
4 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Navigating rigid work schedules, complex appointment systems, and long waits at the doctor’s office offers a whole other set of issues.—
Dan Amos,
Time,
4 Feb. 2026
-
At that pace, long waits are facing most of the roughly 20,000 sick and wounded people who Gaza’s Health Ministry has said need treatment abroad.—
Wafaa Shurafa,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Detentions.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detentions. Accessed 19 Feb. 2026.
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