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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detainment
Noun
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On Monday, the airport saw nearly 400 cancellations and 375 delays.—
Jessica Schladebeck,
New York Daily News,
18 Feb. 2025 -
The organization was criticized back in 2014 for its long delay in declaring the outbreak a public health emergency, which hindered swift containment measures that could have prevented the virus from spreading across borders.—
Jess Craig,
Vox,
17 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Funding for border security measures, including additional detention beds and Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, would increase by $175 billion.—
Catie Edmondson,
New York Times,
19 Feb. 2025
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One reason for the extended pre-trial detention, Powell’s lawyer Bernard Alan Seidler said, was that Powell insisted on changing his lawyers at least four times.—
Graham Rayman,
New York Daily News,
19 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Fortunately, her owner gave birth just a week ago, and the wait was over.—
Tom Rogers,
Newsweek,
22 Feb. 2025
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Recalling the 2010s when the IRS was understaffed, Williams of the Tax Policy Center, said filers in need of assistance should expect slower refunds as a result of long wait times and worse customer service.—
Megan Cerullo,
CBS News,
21 Feb. 2025
Noun
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The program’s impact was significant: within five years of its implementation, the U.S. incarceration rate became the highest in the world.—
Michelle Mbekeani,
Forbes,
18 Feb. 2025
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These evacuations and incarcerations were carried out under the direction of Gen. John L. DeWitt of the U.S. Army.—
James M. Purcell,
The Mercury News,
15 Feb. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Detainment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detainment. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
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