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
The new plan does aim to fund DHS without funding the part of ICE charged with detentions and its deportation operations.
—
March 25, NPR, 25 Mar. 2026
As attorneys fight the ongoing detentions in court, some SIJS recipients have been released.
—Daniella Silva, NBC news, 17 Mar. 2026
The detentions follow El Salvador President Nayib Bukele’s nearly four-year emergency measures, which have led to approximately 91,300 people being detained nationwide.
—Gisela Salomon, Los Angeles Times, 16 Mar. 2026
The policy changes will also allow HPD officers to prolong detentions and traffic stops on the basis of administrative warrants, Fife said.
—John Wayne Ferguson, Houston Chronicle, 11 Mar. 2026
For months the city and surrounding suburbs were subjected to indiscriminate detentions by federal agents, tear gassings, shootings and more.
—Sara Tenenbaum, CBS News, 5 Mar. 2026
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
Garza has explicitly framed the coalition as a response to concerns about warrantless entries, unlawful detentions and coercive enforcement tactics.
—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
March 25, NPR, 25 Mar. 2026
As attorneys fight the ongoing detentions in court, some SIJS recipients have been released.
—Daniella Silva, NBC news, 17 Mar. 2026
The detentions follow El Salvador President Nayib Bukele’s nearly four-year emergency measures, which have led to approximately 91,300 people being detained nationwide.
—Gisela Salomon, Los Angeles Times, 16 Mar. 2026
The policy changes will also allow HPD officers to prolong detentions and traffic stops on the basis of administrative warrants, Fife said.
—John Wayne Ferguson, Houston Chronicle, 11 Mar. 2026
For months the city and surrounding suburbs were subjected to indiscriminate detentions by federal agents, tear gassings, shootings and more.
—Sara Tenenbaum, CBS News, 5 Mar. 2026
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
Garza has explicitly framed the coalition as a response to concerns about warrantless entries, unlawful detentions and coercive enforcement tactics.
—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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detentions
Noun
-
In Acts, the disciple Paul endures several imprisonments, turning to God for strength and divine intervention.—
Emiliano Tahui Gómez,
Austin American Statesman,
17 Mar. 2026
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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
Noun
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This time, however, travelers are already facing long lines and delays due to the ongoing partial government shutdown, which has left thousands of TSA workers without pay.—
De'Anthony Taylor,
Baltimore Sun,
28 Mar. 2026
-
How soon will this help with airport delays?—
John Raby,
Los Angeles Times,
28 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
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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
-
Comfort can be hard to find in the past month, as the partial government shutdown has more and more TSA agents calling out of work, leading to long waits to get through security.—
Madeline Montgomery,
CBS News,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Some families have described poor food and long waits for medical attention.—
Mike Hixenbaugh,
NBC news,
25 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Detentions.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detentions. Accessed 30 Mar. 2026.
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