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
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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
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Recent Examples of detainment
Right now, any contact with local or state law enforcement puts you at risk of detainment and deportation.
—
Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Oc Register, 21 Oct. 2025
Since the boy's detainment, members in the community and local leaders have sparked outrage, demanding for his release.
—Megan Forrester, ABC News, 15 Oct. 2025
Her case received coverage by local media throughout her detainment, as her community rallied behind her to secure her release.
—Andrew Stanton, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025
Thomas, who lives in the area and witnessed the detainment, recalled the scene to WGN-TV.
—Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 11 Oct. 2025
This year has been nothing short of horrific for our country’s Latine population, thanks to the current administration’s anti-immigration legislation and numerous, often-violent ICE raids, resulting in mass deportations and detainment (sometimes among legal residents and citizens).
—Sofía Viera, Allure, 10 Oct. 2025
Even though the state’s adult-use market kicked off two years ago, distribution has been like a minefield, with drivers facing detainment from Border Patrol officers.
—Benjamin Adams, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
The Carrillo Law Firm, which shared the claim with McClatchy News, and the Law Offices of Christian Contreras are challenging his detainment, arguing ICE and Border Patrol violated his civil rights.
—Julia Marnin, Sacbee.com, 29 Aug. 2025
Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Oc Register, 21 Oct. 2025
Since the boy's detainment, members in the community and local leaders have sparked outrage, demanding for his release.
—Megan Forrester, ABC News, 15 Oct. 2025
Her case received coverage by local media throughout her detainment, as her community rallied behind her to secure her release.
—Andrew Stanton, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025
Thomas, who lives in the area and witnessed the detainment, recalled the scene to WGN-TV.
—Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 11 Oct. 2025
This year has been nothing short of horrific for our country’s Latine population, thanks to the current administration’s anti-immigration legislation and numerous, often-violent ICE raids, resulting in mass deportations and detainment (sometimes among legal residents and citizens).
—Sofía Viera, Allure, 10 Oct. 2025
Even though the state’s adult-use market kicked off two years ago, distribution has been like a minefield, with drivers facing detainment from Border Patrol officers.
—Benjamin Adams, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
The Carrillo Law Firm, which shared the claim with McClatchy News, and the Law Offices of Christian Contreras are challenging his detainment, arguing ICE and Border Patrol violated his civil rights.
—Julia Marnin, Sacbee.com, 29 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detainment
Noun
-
What To Know Propel surveyed 2,463 active SNAP users between October 20 and 21, 2025, to assess how a potential delay in SNAP payments would impact them.—
Aliss Higham,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Oct. 2025
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On Friday evening, airports in Phoenix, Houston and San Diego were reporting delays because of staffing issues, and the Federal Aviation Administration warned that staffing problems were also possible at airports in the New York area, Dallas and Philadelphia.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
25 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The measure would provide $45 billion to expand ICE’s detention capacity to nearly 100,000 beds, $14 billion for transportation and removal operations and $8 billion to hire 10,000 new deportation officers.—
Adeola Adeosun,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Oct. 2025
-
His team alleges that his detention is, in part, retaliation for not agreeing to work with the FBI.—
Taylor Romine,
CNN Money,
28 Oct. 2025
Noun
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After a two-hour wait, Wanda Bright had finally reached the front of the line — just as the first batch of supplies ran out.—
Jenny Abamu,
NPR,
24 Oct. 2025
-
There are nationwide nurse shortages, declining numbers of primary care providers, overflowing hospitals, and ever-increasing ER wait times.—
Dr. Bryce Pulliam,
Time,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Nii Mensah was sentenced to nine years’ imprisonment for his role in the attack; Jakeem Rose received eight; and Ugnius Asmena received seven.—
Christian Edwards,
CNN Money,
24 Oct. 2025
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According to the report, the manager was charged with three counts of unlawful imprisonment, along with a $500 bond for each, and one count of harassment with an additional $500 bond, totaling to a $2,000 bond.—
Moná Thomas,
PEOPLE,
23 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Children enter foster care for reasons beyond their control – often because of abuse, neglect, or the ripple effects of addiction, incarceration, or untreated mental health conditions in their homes.—
Laura Rivera,
Denver Post,
23 Oct. 2025
-
Research shows that incarcerated students who enroll in postsecondary-education programs are 48% less likely to return to prison than those who don’t participate, according to the Vera Institute of Justice, a nonprofit that opposes mass incarceration.—
Kelly Meyerhofer,
jsonline.com,
23 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Detainment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detainment. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
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