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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of detentions
Whatever the state gathers—whether the innocuous, the personal, or the intensely political—could in turn be used for arrests, detentions, fines, disappearances, and much worse.
—
Justin Sherman, The Atlantic, 11 Oct. 2025
No new entities have been added to the list, and CBP’s detentions have fallen.
—Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 9 Oct. 2025
The law has defined counterterrorism policy for decades and served as the legal backdrop of policies like torture, detentions at Guantanamo Bay and warrantless surveillance programs.
—Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA Today, 9 Oct. 2025
While global attention has focused on foreign business sentiment toward operating in China, the detentions are contributing to a worsening corporate atmosphere among Chinese companies.
—J.d. Capelouto, semafor.com, 8 Oct. 2025
Governor Pritzker has called for investigations into federal enforcement practices, including reports of excessive force and mistaken detentions of American citizens.
—Jordan King, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Oct. 2025
Pappier says that Venezuela intensified detentions of foreigners after its presidential election in 2024 — a vote that Maduro has been widely accused of stealing.
—Manuel Rueda, NPR, 4 Oct. 2025
The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the protests and any detentions at the scene.
—Daniella Silva, NBC news, 3 Oct. 2025
Zanardi’s statement provides a glimpse into the way detentions have been conducted as well as the powerful degradation of trust in the system that has led up to two-thirds of immigrants scheduled for hearings to skip them in fear of arrest.
—Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 29 Sep. 2025
Justin Sherman, The Atlantic, 11 Oct. 2025
No new entities have been added to the list, and CBP’s detentions have fallen.
—Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 9 Oct. 2025
The law has defined counterterrorism policy for decades and served as the legal backdrop of policies like torture, detentions at Guantanamo Bay and warrantless surveillance programs.
—Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA Today, 9 Oct. 2025
While global attention has focused on foreign business sentiment toward operating in China, the detentions are contributing to a worsening corporate atmosphere among Chinese companies.
—J.d. Capelouto, semafor.com, 8 Oct. 2025
Governor Pritzker has called for investigations into federal enforcement practices, including reports of excessive force and mistaken detentions of American citizens.
—Jordan King, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Oct. 2025
Pappier says that Venezuela intensified detentions of foreigners after its presidential election in 2024 — a vote that Maduro has been widely accused of stealing.
—Manuel Rueda, NPR, 4 Oct. 2025
The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the protests and any detentions at the scene.
—Daniella Silva, NBC news, 3 Oct. 2025
Zanardi’s statement provides a glimpse into the way detentions have been conducted as well as the powerful degradation of trust in the system that has led up to two-thirds of immigrants scheduled for hearings to skip them in fear of arrest.
—Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 29 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detentions
Noun
-
The protests come during a federal government shutdown which has triggered layoffs, furloughs and pay withheld for federal workers, and traffic delays at some airports .—
Joseph Hernandez,
Kansas City Star,
12 Oct. 2025
-
The worst problems have come at smaller airports in Burbank, California, and Nashville, Tennessee, but there have also been delays at major hubs in Newark, New Jersey, Chicago, Denver and Dallas-Fort Worth.—
Josh Funk,
Fortune,
11 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The incarcerations have been part of Bukele’s controversial efforts to stem the high crime rates and gang violence that have plagued the country for years.—
Michael Rios,
CNN,
17 Mar. 2025
-
The Body Politic uplifts Baltimore’s relative success in decreasing the city’s homicide and violent crime rate while not increasing incarcerations or the rate of citizen-police interactions.—
Richard Fowler,
Forbes,
3 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport hasn't experienced significant issues with long security waits since the shutdown began.—
Michael Salerno,
AZCentral.com,
4 Oct. 2025
-
Perfect for car rides, restaurant waits, and doctor’s office downtime.—
Emily Glover,
Parents,
2 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Detentions.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detentions. Accessed 16 Oct. 2025.
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