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
Young was held on $2 million bond at the police department’s detention facility, Boisvert said.
—
Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 23 July 2025
This came after the federal government ran into capacity issues at its existing immigration detention center, as 84 of the 181 detention facilities exceeded their contractual capacity on at least one day during October 2024 through mid-April 2025, according to a report by nonprofit TRAC.
—Noe Padilla, IndyStar, 23 July 2025
Habba generated widespread controversy during her tenure as U.S. Attorney, particularly for her office’s decisions to criminally charge Newark Mayor Ras Baraka and Rep. Monica McIver, D-N.J., for altercations at a federal immigration detention facility in New Jersey.
—Alison Durkee, Forbes.com, 23 July 2025
In 1942, the mother of a toddler was given a shocking order: She was told that her child must be sent to a detention facility without her.
—Sacha Pfeiffer, NPR, 22 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for detention
Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 23 July 2025
This came after the federal government ran into capacity issues at its existing immigration detention center, as 84 of the 181 detention facilities exceeded their contractual capacity on at least one day during October 2024 through mid-April 2025, according to a report by nonprofit TRAC.
—Noe Padilla, IndyStar, 23 July 2025
Habba generated widespread controversy during her tenure as U.S. Attorney, particularly for her office’s decisions to criminally charge Newark Mayor Ras Baraka and Rep. Monica McIver, D-N.J., for altercations at a federal immigration detention facility in New Jersey.
—Alison Durkee, Forbes.com, 23 July 2025
In 1942, the mother of a toddler was given a shocking order: She was told that her child must be sent to a detention facility without her.
—Sacha Pfeiffer, NPR, 22 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for detention
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detention
Noun
-
Cannabis Advocates Call For Rescheduling Marijuana Following Cole’s confirmation, cannabis industry organizations and executives were quick to call on the new DEA head to approve the proposal to reschedule cannabis, which has been put on hold since January because of procedural delays.—
A.J. Herrington,
Forbes.com,
24 July 2025
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How tariff news fuels some scams The Better Business Bureau warned earlier this summer that some scammers are using fake excuses involving delays caused by tariffs to cover up fraudulent online orders.—
Susan Tompor,
Freep.com,
24 July 2025
Noun
-
The impact of their monthslong incarceration extended beyond them.—
ProPublica,
ProPublica,
23 July 2025
-
As alarming as this situation is, the toxic brew of brutal incarceration, migrant abuse, and private interests has a deep, dark history in Florida.—
Time,
Time,
17 July 2025
Noun
-
Across the United States, the average wait time is 48 days between when a patient initially contacts a provider for mental healthcare and their first appointment.—
Amanda Marlar,
Forbes.com,
15 July 2025
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Vance's visit disrupted park operations as security measures increased, resulting in prolonged wait times and temporary ride closures for other guests, according to The Independent.—
Amanda Castro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Detention.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detention. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.
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