1
as in arrested
to take or keep (someone) in confinement by authority of law
Police detained the suspect.
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2
as in slowed
to keep (someone or something) from proceeding or progressing
She sent word that she had been unavoidably detained. The plane was detained for hours due to inclement weather.
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Dissimilar Words
as in delayed
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Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of detained
Rick Jervis, USA Today, 14 Sep. 2025
Landau, in Seoul for a Korea-US vice foreign ministerial meeting, said that the 316 South Koreans who returned home Friday on a chartered jet after being detained in Georgia will face no disadvantage when re-entering the US, according to South Korea’s foreign ministry.
—Nino Paoli, Fortune, 14 Sep. 2025
Authorities have not yet revealed the full details of how Robinson was detained, but multiple reports suggested that his father urged him to surrender after recognizing his son in the grainy surveillance footage released by police.
—Richard Hall, Time, 14 Sep. 2025
Asma and other members of the group were taken from their Delhi homes in the evening, but that may be in contravention of Indian laws which say that women cannot be detained after sunset or before sunrise except in certain circumstances.
—Esha Mitra, CNN Money, 14 Sep. 2025
Both men will be detained while police investigate.
—Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 13 Sep. 2025
Venezuelans with expired protections were fired from jobs, separated from children, detained by officers and even deported, lawyers for TPS holders said.
—Arkansas Online, 7 Sep. 2025
Federal immigration authorities detained Ageu Del Almeida Freitas after the 42-year-old Brazilian national tried to resist arrest.
—Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 7 Sep. 2025
At least 300 of those detained were South Korean nationals, the country's foreign ministry said.
—Kristina Foltz, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Sep. 2025
Adjective
Agents detained two suspects – including one at the scene of the crime – but later released them and cleared them of any involvement.
—Rick Jervis, USA Today, 14 Sep. 2025
Landau, in Seoul for a Korea-US vice foreign ministerial meeting, said that the 316 South Koreans who returned home Friday on a chartered jet after being detained in Georgia will face no disadvantage when re-entering the US, according to South Korea’s foreign ministry.
—Nino Paoli, Fortune, 14 Sep. 2025
Authorities have not yet revealed the full details of how Robinson was detained, but multiple reports suggested that his father urged him to surrender after recognizing his son in the grainy surveillance footage released by police.
—Richard Hall, Time, 14 Sep. 2025
Asma and other members of the group were taken from their Delhi homes in the evening, but that may be in contravention of Indian laws which say that women cannot be detained after sunset or before sunrise except in certain circumstances.
—Esha Mitra, CNN Money, 14 Sep. 2025
Both men will be detained while police investigate.
—Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 13 Sep. 2025
Venezuelans with expired protections were fired from jobs, separated from children, detained by officers and even deported, lawyers for TPS holders said.
—Arkansas Online, 7 Sep. 2025
Federal immigration authorities detained Ageu Del Almeida Freitas after the 42-year-old Brazilian national tried to resist arrest.
—Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 7 Sep. 2025
At least 300 of those detained were South Korean nationals, the country's foreign ministry said.
—Kristina Foltz, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detained
Verb
-
He was pulled over and arrested after leaving the airport.—
Nick Ferraro,
Twin Cities,
20 Sep. 2025
-
The cancellation comes weeks after 26-year-old Ottawa man Noah Castellano was arrested and charged with threats to cause death or bodily harm for threatening Morrissey on the social app Blue Sky.—
Andre Gee,
Rolling Stone,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Ten other airlines delayed between one and 19 flights.—
Lauren Penington,
Denver Post,
16 Sep. 2025
-
The San Diego City Council voted 6-2 Monday to begin charging parking fees in Balboa Park for the first time, but council members delayed the start date by several months and granted many park users some major concessions.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Cargill laid out security and stormed to the ring, but she too was eventually apprehended.—
Alfred Konuwa,
Forbes.com,
20 Sep. 2025
-
He was apprehended hours later, the FBI confirmed to Fox News.—
Michael Dorgan,
FOXNews.com,
17 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
In 2026, the amount considered to be a serious delinquent tax debt is $66,000.—
Kelly Phillips Erb,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
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As of June, over 6 million borrowers were delinquent, and more than 5 million were in default, the Education Department said.—
Annie Nova,
CNBC,
10 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Detained.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detained. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.
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