1
as in imprisonment
the state of being held in lawful custody
he's been in detention since the arrest
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of detention
Listen to this article A state prison, a juvenile detention facility, three county jails and a federal detention center sit just outside the Border 2 fire’s evacuation zone.
—
Kelly Davis, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Jan. 2025
Of the 780 people ever detained at Guantánamo, 540 were released during the presidency of George W. Bush, who established the detention facility.
—Lisa Hajjar, The Conversation, 24 Jan. 2025
The measure calls for the detention of a broad group of migrants, including individuals permitted to enter the U.S. to seek asylum, if they have been accused of theft, burglary or shoplifting.
—Mychael Schnell, The Hill, 13 Jan. 2025
Machado's detention has further intensified global criticism of Maduro's regime.
—Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 10 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for detention 
Kelly Davis, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Jan. 2025
Of the 780 people ever detained at Guantánamo, 540 were released during the presidency of George W. Bush, who established the detention facility.
—Lisa Hajjar, The Conversation, 24 Jan. 2025
The measure calls for the detention of a broad group of migrants, including individuals permitted to enter the U.S. to seek asylum, if they have been accused of theft, burglary or shoplifting.
—Mychael Schnell, The Hill, 13 Jan. 2025
Machado's detention has further intensified global criticism of Maduro's regime.
—Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 10 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for detention
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detention
Noun
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In the face of the delay of bringing the mission to its full operational strength of 2,500, the security situation continues to deteriorate.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
25 Jan. 2025
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Now, county officials are calling for an independent investigation into the delay of the evacuation alert — which comes on the heels of other issues with the emergency alert system, including erroneously calling for the evacuation of other parts of the county on Thursday, Jan. 9.—
Anna Lazarus Caplan,
People.com,
24 Jan. 2025
Noun
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He was sentenced to seven days’ incarceration at a DUI education center, two years’ probation, a $350 fine and payment of court fees.—
Nardine Saad,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Jan. 2025
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After her two months of incarceration, Hemphill got out and immediately created a place on X Spaces, previously known as Twitter Spaces, for those involved in the Capitol riot.—
Sally Krutzig,
Idaho Statesman,
22 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Niccol joined Starbucks in September to rescue the chain after boycotts, price increases and lengthy wait times prompted a rare decline in visits.—
Bloomberg,
The Mercury News,
28 Jan. 2025
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In the My Disney Experience app, users will find maps, a tip board, lists of wait times to their favorites attractions, mobile ordering options, and Genie, a free tool that helps plan your day.—
Kimberly Zapata,
Parents,
27 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near detention
Cite this Entry
“Detention.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detention. Accessed 1 Feb. 2025.
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