as in delayed
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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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Recent Examples of detained
Lori A Bashian, FOXNews.com, 10 May 2026
He was detained on an outstanding warrant in relation to the fire.
—Escher Walcott, PEOPLE, 10 May 2026
Israel arrested, detained and deported the participants, including Ávila, who claimed Israeli authorities abused them while in detention.
—Melanie Lidman, Los Angeles Times, 10 May 2026
Those initially detained by federal immigration authorities in the region have been held at Alligator Alcatraz, which was named in light of the 200,000 wild alligators that live in the surrounding swampland.
—Anna Giaritelli, The Washington Examiner, 9 May 2026
At age 21, Della Valle said, he was detained and sent back to the Mexican border, but he was never formally deported.
—Madeleine Wright, CBS News, 9 May 2026
The 48-year-old man, whose name was not released, was detained and taken to a hospital for psychiatric evaluation, according to the Port Authority Police Department.
—Doha Madani, NBC news, 3 May 2026
His films document stories like Gurtovaia’s — and that of his neighbor, Scott Sakiyama, who said he was wrongfully detained by ICE.
—Christiana Freitag, Chicago Tribune, 3 May 2026
That includes her father, Justo Bentancourt, who has been transferred twice in and out of the facility since he was detained in October 2025.
—Churchill Ndonwie
may 2, Miami Herald, 2 May 2026
Verb
Following the attack, Pasqual allegedly fled California, and was detained at the United States/Mexico border in Sierra Blanca, Texas, according to PEOPLE.
—Lori A Bashian, FOXNews.com, 10 May 2026
He was detained on an outstanding warrant in relation to the fire.
—Escher Walcott, PEOPLE, 10 May 2026
Israel arrested, detained and deported the participants, including Ávila, who claimed Israeli authorities abused them while in detention.
—Melanie Lidman, Los Angeles Times, 10 May 2026
Those initially detained by federal immigration authorities in the region have been held at Alligator Alcatraz, which was named in light of the 200,000 wild alligators that live in the surrounding swampland.
—Anna Giaritelli, The Washington Examiner, 9 May 2026
At age 21, Della Valle said, he was detained and sent back to the Mexican border, but he was never formally deported.
—Madeleine Wright, CBS News, 9 May 2026
The 48-year-old man, whose name was not released, was detained and taken to a hospital for psychiatric evaluation, according to the Port Authority Police Department.
—Doha Madani, NBC news, 3 May 2026
His films document stories like Gurtovaia’s — and that of his neighbor, Scott Sakiyama, who said he was wrongfully detained by ICE.
—Christiana Freitag, Chicago Tribune, 3 May 2026
That includes her father, Justo Bentancourt, who has been transferred twice in and out of the facility since he was detained in October 2025.
—Churchill Ndonwie
may 2, Miami Herald, 2 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detained
Adjective
-
The combination of the chiming, delayed guitar, twiddly ‘80s synths, weird time signatures and Fish’s unique lyrics and vocal delivery all added up to a very intriguing listen.—
Liza Lentini,
SPIN,
8 May 2026
-
What started as a delayed flight out of Atlanta quickly turned into a federal case.—
Christopher Harris,
CBS News,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
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No remains were uncovered, but a month later, both Flores men were arrested and charged in connection with Smart’s murder.—
Richard Winton,
Los Angeles Times,
10 May 2026
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In 2024 a total of 219 unhoused people were arrested on this charge.—
Michael Perkins,
The Orlando Sentinel,
10 May 2026
Verb
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In its ruling, the court found that, pursuant to federal immigration law, only recent immigrants apprehended at the border or a point of entry — such as an airport — can be categorically denied bond.—
Lautaro Grinspan,
AJC.com,
9 May 2026
-
He was apprehended trying to cross into Mexico by way of Sierra Blanca in Texas.—
Jessica Schladebeck,
New York Daily News,
9 May 2026
Adjective
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Data the city provided to the Miami Herald shows that fewer than 40 of its over 60,000 water and sewer accounts are delinquent by more than 120 days, according to the Public Works Department.—
Verónica Egui Brito,
Miami Herald,
8 May 2026
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In a typical year, the bureau may refer $9 million to $12 million in delinquent accounts for collection — revenue that the audit said was put at serious risk.—
Shomik Mukherjee,
Mercury News,
7 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Detained.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detained. Accessed 13 May. 2026.
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