1
as in imprisonments
the state of being held in lawful custody
he's been in detention since the arrest
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Between January 2025 and March 2, immigrants have filed 24,403 challenges against their detentions, according to nonprofit newsroom ProPublica, which is tracking the historic rise in filings.
—
Bridget Fogarty, jsonline.com, 3 Mar. 2026
Overturning years of precedent, immigration authorities have arrested or questioned dozens of refugees in Minnesota, attorneys and advocates say, with more detentions likely to come nationwide.
—Gisela Salomon, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2026
The coalition formed in response to what members say are increasing concerns about federal immigration enforcement tactics, including warrantless entries, unlawful detentions and aggressive operations in local communities.
—Dante Motley, Austin American Statesman, 26 Feb. 2026
The names of the four other students weren’t immediately available, though the administration has launched high-profile detentions of pro-Palestinian Columbia student activists, including Mahmoud Khalil and Mohsen Mahdawi.
—Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 26 Feb. 2026
How Trump's focus on immigration affects Oklahoma The immigration agency's push for prosecutorial powers, meanwhile, correlates to the increase in court hearings, creating a backlog of cases as detentions skyrocket.
—Maria Guinnip, Oklahoman, 25 Feb. 2026
Last year, the Home is Here campaign — a coalition to protect DACA recipients — documented 65 cases of detentions by immigration agents nationwide.
—Mathew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 23 Feb. 2026
That's unusual, as many Democrats or cities and states have what the president refers to as sanctuary city policies, or policies of not necessarily being aligned in enforcement on detentions.
—CBS News, 22 Feb. 2026
Lusverti added that the list of beneficiaries fails to cover key periods of arbitrary detentions, including cases between 2020 and 2024, and raised concerns that the same courts that ordered the imprisonments are now responsible for administering the amnesty.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 20 Feb. 2026
Bridget Fogarty, jsonline.com, 3 Mar. 2026
Overturning years of precedent, immigration authorities have arrested or questioned dozens of refugees in Minnesota, attorneys and advocates say, with more detentions likely to come nationwide.
—Gisela Salomon, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2026
The coalition formed in response to what members say are increasing concerns about federal immigration enforcement tactics, including warrantless entries, unlawful detentions and aggressive operations in local communities.
—Dante Motley, Austin American Statesman, 26 Feb. 2026
The names of the four other students weren’t immediately available, though the administration has launched high-profile detentions of pro-Palestinian Columbia student activists, including Mahmoud Khalil and Mohsen Mahdawi.
—Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 26 Feb. 2026
How Trump's focus on immigration affects Oklahoma The immigration agency's push for prosecutorial powers, meanwhile, correlates to the increase in court hearings, creating a backlog of cases as detentions skyrocket.
—Maria Guinnip, Oklahoman, 25 Feb. 2026
Last year, the Home is Here campaign — a coalition to protect DACA recipients — documented 65 cases of detentions by immigration agents nationwide.
—Mathew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 23 Feb. 2026
That's unusual, as many Democrats or cities and states have what the president refers to as sanctuary city policies, or policies of not necessarily being aligned in enforcement on detentions.
—CBS News, 22 Feb. 2026
Lusverti added that the list of beneficiaries fails to cover key periods of arbitrary detentions, including cases between 2020 and 2024, and raised concerns that the same courts that ordered the imprisonments are now responsible for administering the amnesty.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 20 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detentions
Noun
-
Lusverti added that the list of beneficiaries fails to cover key periods of arbitrary detentions, including cases between 2020 and 2024, and raised concerns that the same courts that ordered the imprisonments are now responsible for administering the amnesty.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
20 Feb. 2026
-
His is the most high-profile of a series of arrests and imprisonments under a draconian National Security Law imposed by Beijing.—
Andy Browne,
semafor.com,
16 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The insurer has come under heavy criticism from fire victims over its handling of claims, including complaints of low payout offers, denials for toxin testing and delays in payments for living expenses.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Mar. 2026
-
For public transit, confirm that service runs frequently and late enough to accommodate potential delays.—
Abby Price,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Mar. 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
-
About a third of the Republican polling places have over 30-minute waits.—
Rachel Royster
Updated March 3,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
4 Mar. 2026
-
Local spots right near the venue might have shorter waits and easier parking than driving to Wynwood or Miami Beach before the game starts.—
Taylor Haught,
Miami Herald,
4 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Detentions.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detentions. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
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