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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of detentions
Legal experts and judges have voiced concern over the legal basis for such detentions.
—
Christian Edwards, CNN Money, 27 Oct. 2025
As immigrant arrests and detentions have increased, more and more detainees in Aurora’s detention center are being ordered to leave the country — either at their own request or under a removal order issued by a judge.
—Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 22 Oct. 2025
Attendees voiced opposition to Trump's immigration detentions, his effort to redraw Indiana's congressional boundaries to favor Republicans and what protesters view as attacks on free speech.
—Tony Cook, IndyStar, 18 Oct. 2025
Among the detentions in which allegations have not stuck, masked agents pointed a gun at, pepper sprayed and punched a young man who had filmed them searching for his relative.
—Nicole Foy, ProPublica, 18 Oct. 2025
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
Christian Edwards, CNN Money, 27 Oct. 2025
As immigrant arrests and detentions have increased, more and more detainees in Aurora’s detention center are being ordered to leave the country — either at their own request or under a removal order issued by a judge.
—Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 22 Oct. 2025
Attendees voiced opposition to Trump's immigration detentions, his effort to redraw Indiana's congressional boundaries to favor Republicans and what protesters view as attacks on free speech.
—Tony Cook, IndyStar, 18 Oct. 2025
Among the detentions in which allegations have not stuck, masked agents pointed a gun at, pepper sprayed and punched a young man who had filmed them searching for his relative.
—Nicole Foy, ProPublica, 18 Oct. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detentions
Noun
-
Major delays at airports across the country continue to persist due to staffing issues in air traffic controller towers and centers.—
Jon Haworth,
ABC News,
8 Nov. 2025
-
After the modems were shut off in 2021, Forlini said, each community had to bring in the memory sticks in the tabulators to the county elections department for uploading, which brought delays in reporting unofficial results.—
Christina Hall,
Freep.com,
8 Nov. 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
-
Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport warned travelers of up to three-hour waits for security screening this week.—
Alexandra Skores,
CNN Money,
4 Nov. 2025
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Although crowding issues have improved since American Express restricted Centurion guest access, there are often still long waits.—
Lori Zaino,
CNBC,
31 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Detentions.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detentions. Accessed 15 Nov. 2025.
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