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
The government said the detentions were a response to the attacks.
—
ABC News, 10 June 2026
Immigration authorities say the detentions of a Somali referee and two Iraqi national team members were part of routine vetting.
—Sammy Westfall, Washington Post, 9 June 2026
Of those, 16 were classified as immigration detentions, while the remaining 34 were based on local or state criminal charges.
—Verónica Egui Brito, Miami Herald, 4 June 2026
Amid the fear and acts of solidarity, the city announced a $100,000 emergency assistance fund to help households affected by the detentions pay rent and utility bills.
—Yuliana Montiel, Charlotte Observer, 29 May 2026
More recently, Morello joined demonstrations outside Manhattan’s immigration court at 26 Federal Plaza alongside the organization Hands Off NYC, protesting ICE policies and detentions.
—Spin Staff, SPIN, 29 May 2026
Beijing would occasionally cite the presence of Uyghur militants in Syria and Afghanistan as justification for these detentions.
—Brittney Melton, NPR, 26 May 2026
From post-9/11 terrorism suspects and more recent ICE detentions, this old Latin phrase is never far from current events.
—Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 25 May 2026
Beyond the deportations and detentions, the economic toll throughout Chicagoland was immediate.
—Jack O'Connor, Chicago Tribune, 24 May 2026
ABC News, 10 June 2026
Immigration authorities say the detentions of a Somali referee and two Iraqi national team members were part of routine vetting.
—Sammy Westfall, Washington Post, 9 June 2026
Of those, 16 were classified as immigration detentions, while the remaining 34 were based on local or state criminal charges.
—Verónica Egui Brito, Miami Herald, 4 June 2026
Amid the fear and acts of solidarity, the city announced a $100,000 emergency assistance fund to help households affected by the detentions pay rent and utility bills.
—Yuliana Montiel, Charlotte Observer, 29 May 2026
More recently, Morello joined demonstrations outside Manhattan’s immigration court at 26 Federal Plaza alongside the organization Hands Off NYC, protesting ICE policies and detentions.
—Spin Staff, SPIN, 29 May 2026
Beijing would occasionally cite the presence of Uyghur militants in Syria and Afghanistan as justification for these detentions.
—Brittney Melton, NPR, 26 May 2026
From post-9/11 terrorism suspects and more recent ICE detentions, this old Latin phrase is never far from current events.
—Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 25 May 2026
Beyond the deportations and detentions, the economic toll throughout Chicagoland was immediate.
—Jack O'Connor, Chicago Tribune, 24 May 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
-
In the postwar years, Malaparte claimed that his imprisonments by Mussolini were proof of his anti-Fascist credentials—or, at least, his irrepressible nonconformity.—
Thomas Meaney,
New Yorker,
2 July 2025
Noun
-
More delays are planned for Trey Parker and Matt Stone’s South Park Season 27 after two breaks in the first three weeks.—
Tim Lammers,
Forbes.com,
24 Aug. 2025
-
The right of first refusal was implemented in March after delays.—
Jake Sheridan,
Chicago Tribune,
24 Aug. 2025
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
-
Many readers point to the appeal of having new chapters released consistently rather than reading standalone titles with long waits between installments.—
Malana VanTyler,
USA Today,
10 June 2026
-
From a clinical perspective, these shortages have real consequences — long waits, days in an emergency room waiting for a psychiatric bed to open and conditions that worsen while people fall through the cracks.—
Cathryn Nacario,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Detentions.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detentions. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
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