1
as in imprisonment
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 delay
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 detention
They are scheduled to appear at a detention hearing on Thursday.
—
Jeramie Bizzle,
CBS News,
2 July 2026
The arrest news also comes as the number of people entered into ICE detention facilities climbed in June to roughly 39,000 after hovering near 30,000 per month since February, according to information obtained by the Associated Press.
—
Rebecca Santana,
Los Angeles Times,
2 July 2026
As the detentions accelerated, United We Dream began tracking them.
—
Lauren Villagran,
Miami Herald,
2 July 2026
The county is still not using the former juvenile detention facility, said Macy Obernuefemann, a county spokesperson.
—
Theresa Clift
july 2,
Sacbee.com,
2 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for detention
Jeramie Bizzle,
CBS News,
2 July 2026
The arrest news also comes as the number of people entered into ICE detention facilities climbed in June to roughly 39,000 after hovering near 30,000 per month since February, according to information obtained by the Associated Press.
—
Rebecca Santana,
Los Angeles Times,
2 July 2026
As the detentions accelerated, United We Dream began tracking them.
—
Lauren Villagran,
Miami Herald,
2 July 2026
The county is still not using the former juvenile detention facility, said Macy Obernuefemann, a county spokesperson.
—
Theresa Clift
july 2,
Sacbee.com,
2 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for detention
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detention
Noun
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But after his imprisonment, Lilburne’s Proposition became the defining cause of the radical Leveller movement, which subsequently dedicated itself to unlocking all of the revolutionary possibilities lurking in the word equal.
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Badea, who was involved in the conspiracy for less time, was handed eight years’ imprisonment.
Noun
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But the heat has led to cancellations and delays in several states.
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The city commission reached a major step forward on the project after months of delays and disagreements over the best way to replace the old City Hall, which was damaged beyond repair by the historic flooding of April 2023.
Noun
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His spouse, Marie Castro Fiallos, told the federal court her husband’s incarceration has been devastating for their children.
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According to Evans, Holmes has maintained a spotless disciplinary record during her three years of incarceration.
Noun
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The wait for Taylor Swift to drop photos from her wedding to Travis Kelce is on.
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Next up is a mouthwatering quarterfinal against Naomi Osaka, a Wimbledon occasion that will hopefully be worth the wait.
Cite this Entry
“Detention.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detention. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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