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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of detention
Abrego Garcia was then transferred to a detention facility in Texas, his wife said, and then placed on the flight to El Salvador on March 15.
—
Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 7 Apr. 2025
Alternatives to detention, such as ankle monitors and regular check-ins with ICE, can also be used.
—Alyson Hurt, NPR, 7 Apr. 2025
The school’s president, Edward Inch, said the school found out after running a database check of international student statuses after the detention of a Turkish student at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis over a drunken driving conviction.
—Brie Stimson, FOXNews.com, 6 Apr. 2025
And a Russian biomedical researcher at Harvard University who was detained coming back from France and has been in the infamous detention facility in Louisiana for over a month.
—M. Gessen, Mercury News, 5 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for detention
Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 7 Apr. 2025
Alternatives to detention, such as ankle monitors and regular check-ins with ICE, can also be used.
—Alyson Hurt, NPR, 7 Apr. 2025
The school’s president, Edward Inch, said the school found out after running a database check of international student statuses after the detention of a Turkish student at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis over a drunken driving conviction.
—Brie Stimson, FOXNews.com, 6 Apr. 2025
And a Russian biomedical researcher at Harvard University who was detained coming back from France and has been in the infamous detention facility in Louisiana for over a month.
—M. Gessen, Mercury News, 5 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for detention
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detention
Noun
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Under cost-cutting orders from the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency, purchasing cards had been frozen, requiring approvals for all but emergency expenses, which sometimes meant lengthy delays.—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
19 Apr. 2025
-
Anyone who pays close attention to the launch industry knows delays are part of the business.—
Stephen Clark,
ArsTechnica,
18 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Many of the recipients are working on projects responding to issues including climate change, Indigenous studies, identity, democracy and politics, incarceration, and the evolving purpose of community.—
News Desk,
Artforum,
15 Apr. 2025
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Through deeply personal storytelling, the film highlights the generational impact of mass incarceration, the resilience of families, and the urgent need for systemic change.—
Hilary Lewis,
HollywoodReporter,
15 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The wait is over: Netflix’s long-running dark satirical anthology series, Black Mirror, officially returns on April 10.—
Monica Mercuri,
Forbes.com,
9 Apr. 2025
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From there, the wait begins — standard processing can take anywhere from three to six months, sometimes more.—
Alex Ashley,
Rolling Stone,
9 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Detention.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detention. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
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