1
as in delay
an instance or period of being prevented from going about one's business
the returning vacationers' detainment at the border only lasted a few minutes
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in detention
the state of being held in lawful custody
she'll be kept in detainment until the trial if she can't post bail
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of detainment
Planning for the worst Palacio-Mora sent out a protocol sheet to parents last week, following Tuesday’s detainment of four Ypsilanti community members.
—
Beki San Martin, Freep.com, 6 Feb. 2026
Elizabeth’s school social worker, who has seen the impact of agents’ actions on students, called for the detainment of children to stop.
—Holly Yan, CNN Money, 6 Feb. 2026
Since her father's detainment, Betancourt has traveled across the country to participate in demonstrations, including spending the past week in Minneapolis.
—Nikiya Carrero, CBS News, 31 Jan. 2026
Since her father’s detainment, Betancourt has traveled across the country to participate in demonstrations, including spending the past week in Minneapolis.
—Nikiya Carrero, Miami Herald, 31 Jan. 2026
The detainments have broadly affected the staff and students in her district.
—Janelle Griffith, PEOPLE, 30 Jan. 2026
Other big stories ➤ The Department of Homeland Security bought a warehouse for detainment in this Valley city for more than $70 million.
—Arizona Republic, AZCentral.com, 30 Jan. 2026
Last year, more Americans returned from wrongful detainment than in any of the previous 22 years, Richards said.
—Sam Tabachnik, Denver Post, 29 Jan. 2026
Images from the young boy’s detainment garnered international attention when he was apprehended by immigration officials shortly after arriving home from preschool while his father was in their driveway, school officials said last week.
—Leah Sarnoff, ABC News, 28 Jan. 2026
Beki San Martin, Freep.com, 6 Feb. 2026
Elizabeth’s school social worker, who has seen the impact of agents’ actions on students, called for the detainment of children to stop.
—Holly Yan, CNN Money, 6 Feb. 2026
Since her father's detainment, Betancourt has traveled across the country to participate in demonstrations, including spending the past week in Minneapolis.
—Nikiya Carrero, CBS News, 31 Jan. 2026
Since her father’s detainment, Betancourt has traveled across the country to participate in demonstrations, including spending the past week in Minneapolis.
—Nikiya Carrero, Miami Herald, 31 Jan. 2026
The detainments have broadly affected the staff and students in her district.
—Janelle Griffith, PEOPLE, 30 Jan. 2026
Other big stories ➤ The Department of Homeland Security bought a warehouse for detainment in this Valley city for more than $70 million.
—Arizona Republic, AZCentral.com, 30 Jan. 2026
Last year, more Americans returned from wrongful detainment than in any of the previous 22 years, Richards said.
—Sam Tabachnik, Denver Post, 29 Jan. 2026
Images from the young boy’s detainment garnered international attention when he was apprehended by immigration officials shortly after arriving home from preschool while his father was in their driveway, school officials said last week.
—Leah Sarnoff, ABC News, 28 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detainment
Noun
-
Ashley Williams, executive director of Just Transition Northwest Indiana, responded to the delay in a Thursday email.—
Maya Wilkins,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Some say long delays are affecting emergency response.—
WGME-TV Staff,
Baltimore Sun,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Slowly, students, unions and opposition activists are taking advantage of this moment to express their views, probing the limits of free speech after years of repression and the constant threat of detention.—
Manuel Rueda,
NPR,
10 Feb. 2026
-
In response, the Brazilian government created a criminal classification that facilitates measures for the seizure of assets of individuals accused of terrorism, expands the possibility of temporary detention, and establishes penalties of up to 30 years in prison.—
Evandro Cruz Silva,
The Dial,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Wiles, who was racing just four spots behind Vonn, was forced to endure the wait atop the mountain then race just minutes after a helicopter carried her teammate away.—
Becky Sullivan,
NPR,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Officials said 311 wait times were also cut in half to help New Yorkers who didn't have a warm place to stay.—
Christina Fan,
CBS News,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
He is charged with grand larceny, kidnapping, unauthorized use of a vehicle and unlawful imprisonment, cops said.—
Colin Mixson,
New York Daily News,
3 Feb. 2026
-
Bukele brought murder rates in El Salvador to historic lows through a gargantuan imprisonment campaign and police crackdown, but faces numerous allegations of human rights violations, especially regarding his notorious Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT).—
Djenane Villanueva,
CNN Money,
1 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
During more than 21 years of incarceration on death row at Idaho’s maximum security prison south of Boise, Hall repeatedly appealed his convictions in state and federal court.—
Kevin Fixler,
Idaho Statesman,
10 Feb. 2026
-
The hospital cleared him for incarceration with a Narcan prescription and instructions to return to the emergency room if symptoms worsened, the lawsuit alleged.—
Theresa Clift,
Sacbee.com,
10 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Detainment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detainment. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
